Louis van Gaal has admitted that he can symphathise with Dick Advocaat after Sunderland failed to secure a win from their first six fixtures of the Premier League season.

The Dutch managers go head to head at Old Trafford this weekend as Manchester United will be looking for a fourth straight win in all competitions against the side that sit bottom in the table.

The manager told MUTV: "I sympathise with the person, not with the position. Dick Advocaat is a friend of mine, so not only a colleague, but a friend. We played together for Sparta Rotterdam, but we have seen each other many, many times and we are calling each other.

"He is a very good guy and a very honest guy also, so I like him very much, but he has it difficult now, I believe. I hope that Sunderland shall win every game apart from those against Manchester United.

"I think he shall defend more than ever, but you never know. I think he shall do that and play the counter-attack tactics. But every home match for Manchester United has to be three points, it's like that."

Van Gaal took charge of Sunderland in March, helping the side avoid relegation in the final stages of the 2014-15 season.