Raimond van der Gouw urges Manchester United players to improve

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw has insisted that the players must shoulder some of the responsibility for the club's recent poor form.

There have been suggestions that manager Louis van Gaal is on the verge of being sacked following a run of six matches without a victory, which has coincided with exits from the Champions League and League Cup.

Despite having acknowledged that part of the blame should fall at Van Gaal's feet, Van der Gouw added that the players "can do much better".

"The manager is always responsible, but the players will have to look at themselves. It's not the manager who is kicking the ball, they can do much better," he told reporters.

Next up for the Red Devils is a trip to Mark Hughes's Stoke City on Boxing Day.