Louis van Gaal says he feels “lousy” after Manchester United’s poor start to the season.

Van Gaal’s appointment was greeted with great fanfare at Old Trafford, but after 10 matches United are 10th in the Premier League.

“It’s not good enough,” the United boss said when asked to evaluate his team’s start to the season. “I feel lousy.”

Van Gaal has garnered just 13 points so far even though United had a favourable run of fixtures at the start of the season.

His predecessor David Moyes, who lasted just 10 months in the job, had 17 points at this stage last season.

Van Gaal added: “I feel, myself, very lousy for the fans firstly, but also for the board because they have a great belief in me and my players and my staff and when you have 13 points out of 10 matches you are not doing well.”

And Van Gaal has warned concerned United fans it may take a long time before he finds a winning formula with his squad.

“We are in a process and that process shall take more than one year,” said the Dutchman, who was given a three-year contract this summer.

“It shall take three years, I hope, because that is always dependable from a lot of aspects, but I think it shall be and we shall make it happen that we shall win a lot of matches in a row.”

Van Gaal’s mood has soured further after his injury list lengthened last weekend when defender Marcos Rojo dislocated his left shoulder in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

The Argentina international does not need surgery and will be out for up to six weeks.

“Marcos dislocated his shoulder but did it in positive way,” Van Gaal said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday.

“We don’t need to operate on him, which is a relief, but maybe with this injury it is very difficult (to say) it shall not happen again. Conservatively, it can be less than six weeks.”

United’s Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, who has scored once in five games since joining on loan from AS Monaco, will also miss the Palace game after failing to recover from a calf injury.

The loss of Rojo could not have come at a worse time for the United manager.

Chris Smalling is suspended because of his silly dismissal in the derby, while Jonny Evans and Phil Jones are also unavailable because of their respective ankle and shin injuries.

Van Gaal was giving little away about the potential make-up of his back line for Saturday’s game, but it is likely that Michael Carrick will have to play at centre back alongside teenager Paddy McNair or the equally inexperienced Tyler Blackett.

“I have to decide who is playing there but who is playing there I don’t want to say.

“Maybe I will train (with Carrick at centre back) today also and I can change my mind, I have to solve that problem.”

When asked whether he would enter the transfer market for a defender in January, Van Gaal, who has been linked with Aston Villa’s centre back Ron Vlaar, said: “It is clear that a lot of things happen and you can judge better in good times than you can in bad times.

“Maybe you are right (about buying in January) but we have to see that.”