Manchester United vs Norwich City - Louis van Gaal confident he has the backing

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is confident his players are with him and that he is backed by the board - but has no doubt if results do not improve it could mean "the end of the world" for him.

United, winless in their last five games in all competitions and beaten in their last two, are out of the Champions League and fourth in the Barclays Premier League, six points behind leaders Leicester.

Their playing style under Van Gaal has been widely criticised and reports have suggested there has been player unrest in the camp.

The Dutchman has dismissed such talk, stressing his belief the squad are behind him, as well as the club's hierarchy.

But, as he acknowledged in the wake of Jose Mourinho's sacking at Chelsea that no manager's job is safe, Van Gaal also made it clear he knows his own position could come under threat should United not start doing what he has emphasised they must - quickly start putting more points on the board.

Asked on Friday ahead of Saturday's home league clash with Norwich about the relationship between him and his players, Van Gaal said: "It's fine.

"I've said that already more than once, but I have seen articles that it's not like that. It is a little bit crazy.

"I have the full confidence of my board and my players I feel.

"But we have to get results. We have to win, and we know that. There is not any doubt.

"We have to win because when you lose too much, also for me it's the end of the world."

Van Gaal had already by that point emphasised the importance of player-manager "chemistry" as he expressed his shock at the news about Mourinho.

Van Gaal said: "It was a big surprise to me.

"He is a fantastic manager with a record that nobody has in this football world, but it is still possible.

"The main thing is always, of course, first the results, and second, the chemistry between the players and the manager and staff."

When asked if the fact Mourinho had been axed so soon after guiding Chelsea to the 2014-15 Premier League title showed no manager was safe, Van Gaal said: "Yes, it is like that. But we know that in advance. Also Jose knows that. This is the world."

United could have skipper Wayne Rooney (ankle) - whose next appearance will be his 500th for United - along with Chris Smalling (groin) and Ander Herrera (hamstring) back in action on Saturday, with all three having trained for a full week building up to the match.

Ashley Young (knock) is a doubt, while Jesse Lingard (leg) and Matteo Darmian (hamstring) are unavailable.

Norwich manager Alex Neil stressed he cannot be expected to "babysit" the players as an internal club investigation continues into a late-night city centre scuffle involving goalkeeper John Ruddy.

Mobile phone footage has emerged of 29-year-old Ruddy needing to be restrained during a heated exchange at a taxi rank in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

Ruddy, capped by England in August 2012, had recently lost his place in the starting XI to 24-year-old Declan Rudd, and watched from the bench as Norwich drew 1-1 with Everton last weekend.

Norfolk Police have not received any complaints from the public regarding the incident, and the club are trying to establish the full circumstances before deciding on what action, if any, to take.

As such, Neil will continue to have the player available for selection ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester United until told otherwise.

"John Ruddy at the moment is under an internal investigation from the club as to what happened, and that is basically as much as I can say on that until that is concluded," the Norwich manager said at a press conference.

"John has not been found guilty or not guilty at this present moment in time.

"There is an investigation going on and John will be a normal member of the squad, that doesn't have any effect at the moment."

On the possibility of any disciplinary action, Neil said: "We will have to wait to see what the investigation brings. There is no time frame on it at the moment but hopefully (it will be concluded) as quickly as we can."

The Norwich manager, however, stressed players must take responsibility for their own actions.

He added in an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk: "You are in the public eye, so you have got to try to be on your best behaviour at all times and you represent the club wherever you are.

"Their actions will have direct consequences to what happens to them.

"I can't go and babysit them, the responsibility falls upon them."