David Beckham urges Manchester United to give Louis van Gaal more time

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has given his support to under-fire manager Louis van Gaal.

The Dutchman has faced incessant speculation over his future in recent months, with that intensifying over the past week due to consecutive defeats to Sunderland and FC Midtjylland.

However, the Red Devils returned to winning ways to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town on Monday evening, and Beckham believes that Van Gaal deserves to be given more time at Old Trafford.

"He is an experienced manager with a great reputation in the game. Sometimes it takes time. It is not easy being manager of Man United," he told talkSPORT.

"We have to look at results, we have to look at the way we play, we have to listen to fans - the people that really matter at the club - and I only hear great things about him as a person, as a manager, as a coach.

"I have met him once before and he treated me unbelievably well. He is manager of Manchester United so there is always going to be criticism, but at the end of the season let's see what happens."

United, who are currently six points off the top four, return to Premier League action against Arsenal on Sunday.