Erik ten Hag addresses David de Gea’s latest howler which cost Man Utd dear
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was careful not to specifically criticize David de Gea after another high-profile error in Sunday’s defeat by West Ham
Erik ten Hag has stressed that David de Gea has the most clean sheets in the Premier League after the goalkeeper’s smash against West Ham.
The Spaniard has endured another error-strewn season, with his latest blunder proving costly in his meek attempt to salvage Said Benrahma’s long-range hope. De Gea lost his footing and let the ball trickle over the line despite getting a hand on the ball.
That high-profile error proved crucial in United’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham, a result that has hurt United’s hopes of a top-four finish. De Gea’s performance was jittery with several missed passes from behind and an uncertain keeper at corners.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ten Hag downplayed the mistake after the game and highlighted the goalkeeper’s plus points this season. He instead chose to focus on the defeat at the Hammers, of which United were second best for most of the time, as a team responsibility.
Ten Hag told BT Sport after the game: “Yes [it was a bad error], but mistakes are part of football. As a team you have to deal with it and get back on your feet. It’s a team sport. As you said, he’s the one with the most goals against over the season. Everyone has to take responsibility.”
De Gea’s future at Old Trafford is seriously in doubt; He is out of contract at the end of the current season and after rejecting the offer of the opening contract, there is now a strong possibility that he will leave the club this summer.
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The long-time Spain goalkeeper, who joined United from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011, is one of just two players, along with Phil Jones, to remain at the club from Sir Alex Ferguson’s era in the managerial dugout.
De Gea signed a hefty deal in 2019 that made him not only the club’s highest-paid player but also the top earner in the Premier League at £375,000 a week. The keeper accepts he doesn’t have the same kind of money at the age of 32 but still wants an amount that reflects his worth.
United are believed to be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper this summer to compete for De Gea’s place and potentially usurp him as first choice. Porto goalkeeper and Portugal international Diogo Costa is a candidate, while United are keeping an eye on Brentford shot-stopper David Raya.
De Gea also faces question marks over his playing style, which some say doesn’t fit boss Erik ten Hag’s system. The Dutchman’s possession-based ethos requires his goalkeeper to be comfortable with the ball and to be adept at distributing it.