Louis van Gaal explains why Man United conceded four goals in 21 minutes

Manchester, England: The United boss watched on as his side built a two-goal lead in the second half, only to capitulate and concede four goals inside 21 minutes.

Shellshocked Louis van Gaal admitted Manchester United’s dramatic collapse was as bad as his most traumatic day as a manager.

The Dutchman was furious after United ­squandered a 3-1 lead in the last half hour at Leicester – making it their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign.

He accused his team of having the game “in our pocket and then giving it away”.

“I’ve been in this ­profession for 25 years and the only other experience I’ve known like that was in my first year as coach at Barcelona,” said the Reds boss, thinking back to 1998.

“We were three goals ahead with a quarter of the match to play and lost 3-4. That was also at a top club, but you never expect that to happen when you’re 3-1 ahead and are leading by two goals for the second time.

“It can happen in football, but it’s not good because we had the game in our pocket and we gave it away – not because of Leicester but we gave it away, and I don’t like that.

“You have to kill the game and keep possession, but we couldn’t do that. And then, of course, you give it away with penalties.”

England captain Wayne Rooney let rip at referee Mark Clattenburg, who awarded Leicester two penalties and sent off United’s 20-year-old defender Tyler Blackett.

United’s back four had a torrid afternoon, and despite a £150million transfer spree, they still looked woefully short of defensive know-how.

Van Gaal insisted his team should share responsibility for a result which leaves them eight points behind leaders Chelsea after five games.

He insisted: “You can’t say the defence was weak. You play like a team – Leicester showed that. We didn’t play like a team in the second half, and that’s not only the defence.