There was a point in the season, particularly after the haunting 4-0 defeat away at Brentford, when David de Gea’s position as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper was under real scrutiny. A series of De Gea mistakes handed the Bees a famous victory, although the Spaniard was not helped by those ahead of him. It was an outing that appeared to suggest United's No.1 simply couldn’t adapt to the new style of play that Erik ten Hag had brought with him. Of course, it was always going to take time for Ten Hag's philosophy to be properly instilled at United , and they now sit third in the table after that disastrous start and there have been real improvements across the board. READ MORE: Guardiola has warned United over Kane pursuit As De Gea’s future at the club becomes an even bigger topic of debate, it’s an opportunity to address how the goalkeeper has improved as the campaign’s gone on. It can be easy to pick faults with De Gea and compare him to some of the goalkeepers at United's rivals. Across Manchester, Ederson has made himself known as one of the best 'footballing goalkeepers', whilst Liverpool’s Alisson has enjoyed a sparkling season despite his team’s drop in form. Their style of play, with a keen focus on moving the ball proactively, is exactly the sort of thing United’s manager has been looking for. On the ball, both Brazilians currently have a pass completion rate of 84%. There is a notable difference here when it comes to De Gea, whose pass completion rate is just 69%. However, back in 2019 his pass completion rate was just 65%, showing he has made improvements. Perhaps it’s too harsh to weigh up De Gea’s stats against two players who have made using the ball a part of their identity. Aaron Ramsdale of
Arsenal has a pass completion rate of 64%, whilst Newcastle’s Nick Pope is only 58%. As much as De Gea may not reach the greatest heights in the vision of the modern-day goalkeeper, he still appears to be a significant cut above the chasing pack. The key strength, ultimately, of any goalkeeper is their ability to make saves, a department that De Gea has constantly shone in. In fact, his current save percentage is greater than Ederson's, with the Spaniard at 67% compared to 59%. It’s this level of reliability that has made De Gea undroppable for United. Ten Hag can allow his team to experiment with more expansive
Football, taking more risks, knowing he has a goalkeeper who can bail his teammates out should they make a mistake. This is supported by the number of shots De Gea has actually faced. Although the likes of Pope, Ramsdale and Alisson have higher save percentages than United’s number one, only the latter has been forced to deal with more shots on goal. Through the new style of play at Old Trafford, the opposition are likely to have more opportunities going forward. It’s a by-product of playing more forward-thinking football. Having De Gea as the man between the sticks allows Ten Hag's men to be more adventurous. And who do United have to replace him? Their merry-go-round of loanees has seen Martin Dubravka come and go, with Jack Butland coming in in January, while Tom Heaton is also an option. There's every chance there would be a significant drop in what United would be capable of if they were forced to play either of De Gea's back-ups, who have been strangers to
Premier League action for quite some time. It can always be tempting to look further afield as fans, to dream of having something better. But, as De Gea’s contract at United ticks down, there needs to be a sense of appreciating what you have already. Because once it’s gone, you might remember just what you’re missing. READ NEXT: Lindelof may have handed United another summer task Victor Osimhen's Premier League ambition revealed Erik ten Hag will show if he trusts defender vs Newcastle United have four underperforming players The latest
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