Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag praised David de Gea after he put the disappointment of missing out on Spain’s provisional World Cup squad behind him with a superb performance in Manchester United’s 1-0 win over West Ham United.
De Gea was outstanding against West Ham, making sprawling late saves to deny Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice as United held on for a vital three points at Old Trafford.
The 31-year-old had made a couple of errors earlier in the season, most notably against Brentford in United’s 4-0 defeat, and was left out of Spain’s squad for the September international break.
It was then revealed that De Gea, who had not been called up by his country since November 2021, had been left out of Luis Enrique’s provisional 55-man World Cup squad, with five other goalkeepers chosen ahead of him.
However, following his latest show of great shot stopping, Ten Hag hastened to defend his number one goalkeeper, applauding him as a “magnificent” shot stopper who he believes can strengthen his passing game – an area that some believe has cost De Gea his spot in Spain’s World Cup party.
Erik Ten Hag’s Reaction
“Everyone has his own opinion and his own philosophy,” Ten Hag said. “For me, the first from a goalkeeper is you have to protect the goal, so make sure you don’t concede goals and in that fact he is magnificent.
“And on the feet, for me, he has the capabilities as well. This season, he is progressing from game to game in that part. It has to do not only with the keeper but it has to do with the one in front: how do you give the keeper options to bring passes in. Because when they don’t bring freedom or they are in the wrong positions, he doesn’t have the options to pass around.
“But I am convinced he can do it and I think the games so far prove that. I think he will improve from game to game in that part.”
