Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has told the club's supporters that they need to show their support to the players.

Boos and chants of "attack, attack, attack" could be heard around Old Trafford before Wayne Rooney scored the winner over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The team's lack of attacking prowess has been criticised in recent weeks as they recorded three goalless draws before beating CSKA by a single goal in midweek.

Van Gaal has told the fans that they should direct their frustrations towards him and not the players as the team will struggle to perform without their backing.

"Criticism from the fans is never unfair and you cannot criticise the feeling of the fans," Van Gaal told reporters in today's press conference. "We have to play for the fans but the fans have to understand the game and the resistance of our opponents.

"The fans have to support the players, otherwise they make it very difficult for the players to play at Old Trafford, but, until now, they have been fantastic.

"It's very difficult to play for Manchester United with a lot of pressure and when you can taste that in Old Trafford because of all the yelling, then it's not good for all my players. It's better to whistle at the manager. I can cope with it because I have had a lot of experience in it as my life as a manager."

United are fourth in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Manchester City.