Johan Cruyff believes David Moyes should not have been appointed as Man Utd manager[GETTY]
Moyes moved to Old Trafford after 11 years in charge of today's opponents Everton, but was sacked in April this year after a disastrous Premier league and Champions League campaign.
And Cruyff insists United would not be in their current plight had bosses at Old Trafford appointed a different manager.
"Moyes is a very good coach because I've seen many many years in Everton but he's not a coach which should fit with Manchester United because the focus for both teams are totally different.
"That's why the biggest mistake is to ask Moyes to come to Manchester United because it's a totally different team, a totally different mentality.
"The basic mistake was to sign him on. I think he is a great manager but not for Manchester United. He's just a great manager for another type of team."
Van Gaal backs midweek friendlies [AMBIENT]
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But, with United now seeking their third victory in four games, Cruyff believes the new manager's philosophy is gradually being worked into the players.
"They need to be organised because they were totally disorganised and normally Van Gaal is a very good organiser to put things his way and in the way that (they) should be," he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"That's creating the basis. From then on you have got to build.
"It depends how quickly the other players adjust themselves."