Louis van Gaal would like to remain as manager of Manchester United through the end of his contract after the 16-17 season.

"I have signed a three-year contract and I have said in all my press conferences that it's a process, not one game," Van Gaal told reporters. "And I want to continue until the end. If I am not willing to do that, I don't think I would have started here one-and-a-half years ago."

United have only taken 10 points from their last 10 league games and have won just three of their last 14 matches in all competitions.

"When I say things to defend myself then it's not good," he said. "Because why do I have to defend myself?

"When you see the circumstances -- we have eight injuries, you cannot say that is the manager's fault because five or six are contact injuries, and it's also the same position, full-back.

"We have been first in the Premier League -- you may remember that -- but that was one-and-a-half months ago and the injuries are now and that is also a problem. If I could prevent injuries then maybe I'm guilty and I have to stand down but not when I don't have that feeling and we were No. 1 in the Premier League."