Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has urged the club to keep faith with Louis van Gaal.
Van Gaal's future has been the subject of intense speculation throughout the current campaign, although the pressure has eased somewhat recently courtesy of four consecutive victories.
However, Van der Sar, who played under Van Gaal at Ajax, hailed his compatriot as the best coach he has ever had and believes that comparisons can be drawn between this season and his early years of what proved to be a fruitful spell as Ajax boss.
"They are too far away from the top but they still have two opportunities for trophies. His first year at Ajax too our team was not playing that great. But that year we won the UEFA Cup. In the league we came fourth and also won the UEFA Cup," Van der Sar told the Daily Mail.
"There is still an opportunity to win the Europa League and they're still in the FA Cup. The Champions League places may be difficult but it's still possible. So its not done yet. It's pleasing too to see that he plays young players. That's something where United, and Ajax, it's important for the philosophy of the club to sustain.
"For myself he's the best coach I ever had. The way he does technical stuff, how he trained us, as young players, we learned the trade of being football players, we all listened to him. He was very demanding, but we had success so then it doesn't matter how many times the coach wants to train."
United's 1-0 victory over Watford on Wednesday night took them level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City in the Premier League table.
Barney Corkhill
