Louis Van Gaal asks Manchester United fans to keep faith after opening EPL fixture home loss to Swansea

Manchester United football team new manager Louis van Gaal has asked the club's fans to keep faith with him after his Premier League debut ended in defeat to Swansea City.

Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Swansea prompted former midfielder Paul Scholes to state that the situation at United is desperate and they need to sign quality players.

However, Van Gaal said that he can imagine the fans are scared after last year and the first home match, and added that two weeks ago he had been the king of United, and now he is the devil, The BBC reported.

The former Netherlands coach, who won league titles with Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, had been brought in this summer as the permanent replacement for David Moyes, who was sacked after only 10 months in charge.

The Dutchman's tenure began well as United won six friendlies in pre-season, but then came the loss to Swansea at Old Trafford. Van Gaal said ahead of Sunday's game at Sunderland that the fans have to believe, adding that Paul Scholes has to believe.

Van Gaal said that the club has hired him because of his philosophy, not because he is nice, although he is. He added that the fans have not hired him to fire him.