Louis van Gaal tells Manchester United they need 'professional attitude' to improve

Louis van Gaal believes showing a professional attitude towards improvement is the only way Manchester United will get their confidence back.

The Old Trafford side suffered their first home defeat to Norwich in 26 years as they were beaten 2-1 by Alex Neil's side on Saturday.

In turn, the result meant United had lost three consecutive competitive matches for the third time in less than two years and the second time in just eight months.

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The last time they lost a trio of games previously was in 2001 at the end of a Premier League term in which they had already won the title and still finished 10 points clear despite the defeats.

Van Gaal is under increasing pressure after a run of six matches without a win and his team was booed off the park at full-time against Norwich.

Now, with Pep Guardiola leaving Bayern Munich next year and Jose Mourinho out of work following his sacking by Chelsea, there are high-profile managers available as potential replacements.

Dutchman van Gaal's slower, possession-based tactics have proved to be unpopular with fans, who want to see more attacking football from United.

They will attempt to get back on track at Stoke on Boxing Day and the manager feels a key factor in that will be the attitude shown by his players.

Asked what would help lift confidence, van Gaal said: "To show your professional attitude - that is the only way you can get that back.

"We had done that this week and that is the only way, but now we have to evaluate what we have done here and how we have prepared for this match.

"We shall evaluate what we have done as a staff, and as a team, to make it better against Stoke City.

"And then we have to play within two days against Chelsea. We have to show our professional attitude to improve and to come back into our confidence zone."