Manchester United crisis: Things were worse under David Moyes, says Phil Jones

Under-fire Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has received some good news from his defender Phil Jones, who has reassured him at least things are not as bad as they were under David Moyes.

United sank to their third consecutive defeat on Saturday 19 December at home to Norwich City – a result which saw them drop out of the top four of the Premier League.

According to various reports including the Daily Telegraph, van Gaal has been told he has two matches to save his job with games against Stoke City and Chelsea likely to decide his fate.

With sixth-placed Crystal Palace and seventh-placed Watford – two of the Premier League's in-form sides – United could conceivably drop to seventh should they slip up in their next two games – they finished under Moyes in the 2013-14 season.

Despite their woes, Jones admits everyone at the club had it harder under the former Everton boss.

"I wouldn't say it is the lowest moment," Jones told BBC Sport. "I think it became pretty glum under David Moyes."

United have been dogged by suggestions that members of the dressing room have revolted against van Gaal and his methods with the Sun claiming two senior members of the squad led the mutiny following the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.

But according to Jones, everyone at the club remains firmly behind the Dutchman. "The manager picks the team and the team have to go out and do their best," he told United's website. "We might be playing well in patches and not scoring or whatever it is, but we need to take responsibility for results.

"The players aren't hiding behind anyone. The manager is doing all he can and is doing a terrific job.

"It's not even questionable in the dressing room [that the manager has the players' backing]. The lads are fully focused on doing well for ourselves, the manager and the fans week in, week out.

"He [van Gaal] has been positive, the same as us. He's devastated when we've lost games but the only way we are going to come out of this is if we keep working hard."