Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has warned Manchester United fans of growing pains.
Souness believes Manchester United are in for a 'long and painful transition' if Louis van Gaal plans to keep playing three at the back.
"A coach has to be brave to say that he is going to pursue a system before he gets to know his players," he wrote in The Sunday Times. "They have to buy into it.
"If Van Gaal is determined to persist with a back three, this is going to be a long and painful transition for United.
"The team may take until November to settle down. You ain't going to win the league if you take that long and you might not make the Champions League places either.
"United have already dropped seven points from a possible nine. If you continue with three at the back and the results are not improving, players will not be slow in turning round and pointing their fingers at the coach, saying: 'It's not that I am not playing well, it's the system.'"
