Van Gaal has endured a mixed start to his Old Trafford reign losing three of his first eight games in charge, but United currently sit in fourth place after back-to-back home wins over Queens Park Rangers and Everton.

Ferguson, who backed van Gaal's big spending spree in the summer to reshape the United squad, has compared the Dutchman's start to life at United to the beginning of his own reign and has called on the club's board to back van Gaal.

"He's not been getting the results that are expected but when I came to the club [in November 1986] I didn't get the results I expected myself at the beginning," Ferguson told MUTV.

"What we needed then was Sir Bobby Charlton, Martin Edwards and the board to stick by me and we had a great spell after that.

"Once I got settled into the club, everything was fine. Louis is going through that same process and there's no doubt in my mind that he will sort it out."

Ferguson was criticized last season for casting a shadow over his successor David Moyes by being too high profile at United games and Ferguson admits he found it hard to contain his emotions during the heavy home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City last term.

Asked if he is annoyed at how that has been portrayed, Ferguson added: "There's a bit of that. I haven't been to every game, obviously. I've missed a couple this season already but I've been to a few of them and I continue to do that.

"The way I've always been and I did it as a manager, I'm actually quite stone-faced watching a game. I don't try to show any emotions unless we score.

"I always celebrate a goal, even now as a director I still celebrate a goal. You're always conscious maybe the cameras are on you and this is happening quite a lot.

"I got annoyed when we lost to Liverpool last year. I didn't enjoy that. I don't like losing to Liverpool and Manchester City last year, because they are your biggest rivals and the ones you always strive to defeat and are always in our way. Particularly Liverpool of course."