Louis van Gaal should be given more time to succeed as Manchester United manager -- according to his sacked predecessor, David Moyes.
Moyes was given a six-year contract when he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford in 2013 but lasted less than 10 months before he was fired with United in seventh place.
Van Gaal's team are now sixth after going out of the Champions League, going eight games without a win and losing four of their last five matches.
But while the Dutchman is under pressure, Moyes believes that he has a huge rebuilding job as United adjust to life without Ferguson and former chief executive David Gill and urged executive vice-president Ed Woodward to keep faith with the 64-year-old.
"After Sir Alex the job was always going to be very difficult. It was going to take time. It was a rebuilding job at Manchester United," Moyes told the Clare Balding Show on BT Sport 1.
"And you have to remember that David Gill left who was a big influence at Manchester United. And I think even what Manchester United stand for is that they keep their managers. They have always supported their managers who have been before.
"So I hope they stick with Louis van Gaal. He deserves more time. It is still a work in progress for him. He has made some signings and from my experience in Spain it will take time for players from abroad to settle in.
"So I think they should stick with it. They don't want to become a club which continuously changes their manager."
Moyes had a better win percentage as United manager than Van Gaal, but the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach achieved a fourth-placed finish last season.
Van Gaal, who has been in charge for 17 months, insisted after Monday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea that he will not resign and said he has the backing of his players and the United board.