Louis van Gaal claimed the 2-2 draw with West Brom was Manchester United's best performance of the season to date and said he was confident that his players now understood their roles in the team.
West Brom twice led, first through Stephane Sessegnon and then Saido Berahino in the 66th minute. Marouane Fellaini -- a half-time substitute -- had cancelled out the first but it was Daley Blind who broke Baggies hearts with his 88th minute strike salvaging a point for Van Gaal's side who have now not won on the road for eight games.
"I'm very disappointed because we played our best match of the season and the result is not good enough,'' he said. "I think we could have won but that doesn't count in our world so that's why I'm disappointed, but I also have to be happy because we created a lot of chances and only two shots from West Bromwich Albion turned into goals.
"We gave it away because of our individual errors and that's a pity...''
"I've seen on the training ground now that we are better, the players understand the formation more and I've seen it today which is why it's such a pity we didn't get the result we deserved.''
Van Gaal brought on Marouane Fellaini to replace Ander Herrera at half-time, but said he made the decision after only a few minutes of the match.
"Herrera has played a normal game, not very good but normal, but we have to look also for physical talents and maybe that's our problem,'' he said. "I'm a coach who is always thinking about creative players but in England you also need physical bodies in your team and Fellaini is one of these.''
But while he pointed to progress tactically, Van Gaal admitted his team's return of 12 points from eight matches was not good enough.
"It's not too good I believe because I think when we see the games normally we are the better team,'' he said. "When you have 12 points out of eight in my opinion it is eight points too few.
"I think we dominated the game and that is what I want as a coach, as a manager," continued Van Gaal. "The manager doesn't want a result like 2-2. That I have said to my players. I am happy about our playing style but not happy about the result."
United are now 11 points behind leaders Chelsea, who travel to Old Trafford this weekend, before a Manchester derby with City the following week.
"I have great respect for West Brom but I think Chelsea is another level and Manchester City also, so we have to see if we can beat them, said United's manager, who has won just three matches of United's eight and none yet away from Old Trafford. "After the two matches I can say yes or no."
Van Gaal is clearly concerned about his team's defending but pledged not to change his team's attacking playing style. "I don't think that is the solution," he said. "Two errors, and also in the past, became I think we could have eight points more and then we are up. But that is a matter of time, I believe in it, and football is made to play attractive for the fans."
Making up such ground on Chelsea already looks like mission impossible but Van Gaal would not rule it out on the grounds of his previous achievements as a club manager. "It's possible but it is difficult to say because I am then arrogant but I have done it a lot of times."
Fellaini's goal was his first for the club, after 14 torrid months in Manchester.
"He made a very good substitution, I think," said his manager. "He did it always but until now is always injured and we have to build him up. We could not use him the last two weeks because he was away with Belgium and that was a pity but now he has his first 45 minutes so that's good, that's a positive."
West Brom boss Alan Irvine held a rather different view of the game to Van Gaal. "We're all bitterly disappointed," he said. "We were so close to getting a great result against a top team, and for us not to get the three points feels really tough.
"We've led twice and I felt quite comfortable when we were leading on both occasions."