Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal agrees with the club's fans that his side could use their goalkeeper less during the course of a game, but also stressed that the goalkeeper is the "eleventh player on the pitch".
The Manchester United fans booed when defender Jonny Evans played the ball back to David de Gea during the Red Devils' match against Sunderland on Saturday, which the Red Devils won 2-0.
And the Dutch manager was quick to acknowledge the fans' frustration, insisting that it is not always the right option to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper.
However, the veteran manager reminded supporters that his goalkeeper is the eleventh player on the pitch and is expected to take up additional responsibility when required.
Van Gaal is also of the view that a defender is in desperate need of support from every quarter because if he makes a mistake it can lead to a goal more or less every time and the fans need to realise that before voicing their frustration against a defender.
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"You have to give credit of your doubt to your player and you have to support him", Van Gaal was quoted as saying by ITV.
"When you make a mistake in defence it is more or less always a goal against. You have to see that also, the fans have to see that.
"But I agree with the fans that we don't have to use so much the goalkeeper.
"I have seen also moments where we can play a higher tempo without interfering with the goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper is also the eleventh player."
Van Gaal's side will take on Newcastle United next tonight at St. James' Park in a Premier League clash.
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