David de Gea is confident his on-going contract talks with Manchester United will conclude with him remaining at Old Trafford for the rest of his career.
The 32-year-old, currently in his 12th season with the club, has played a key role in United’s recent upsurge, culminating in a strong performance in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
He is a free agent at the end of this campaign and United have yet to activate their option of a one-year extension, reportedly due to de Gea’s current £375,000 a week deal.
Reports have suggested negotiations centre on United trying to talk De Gea into accepting a lower base salary although the goalkeeper himself hopes to commit the remainder of his career to Old Trafford.
“I hope so. I was saying this is my club, I’ve been here many, many years and it’s a huge honour to be here and I’m so happy here,” said de Gea.
“I’m very relaxed, just focus on training, perform as best as I can. But, for sure, it’s going to end in a good way.”
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Aston Villa fans have two reasons to thank Steven Gerrard amid revival under Unai Emery04 January, 2023With De Gea in inspired form, Erik ten Hag’s side have not conceded a Premier League goal at Old Trafford since beating Arsenal at the start of September – a run of 480 minutes.
The latest win cemented their place in the top four although Ten Hag, while welcoming the fact that his side has made their home ground a fortress, was also critical despite beating Bournemouth so comfortably.
“He was happy with the clean sheet but at the same time he was a bit angry because we conceded too many chances and we were too open at the end of the game, so he was a bit angry,” revealed De Gea.
“That’s how it should be to come here – it should be a tough place for the teams, let’s see in the future.
“We are playing really well, we have to keep the momentum as much as we can and prepare every game as a final and recover well. We have to recover really well because we play a lot of games (this month).
“I feel comfortable with everyone, everyone is training really well, they are ready to play, so they showed again today, once again, it doesn’t matter who is playing, everyone is ready to perform like today and it’s great to have a proper squad.”
Ten Hag, who has led United to nine wins in their last 10 league and cup games, has made a major impact at Old Trafford, although upcoming league games with Manchester City and Arsenal will test that new-found resolve.
“He’s doing well,” said de Gea. “He puts every player in the same direction and we feel like a proper team. Everyone wants to win, everyone wants to play for this club and that’s massive.
“He brought a great spirit to the team, we are playing really well and this is the way we have to show and keep the momentum as well.”
Roll on the Ten Hag revolution
Ten Hag’s Manchester United revolution continues its impressive trajectory with a victory that cemented their place in the top four as the new year opens.
The win, courtesy of well-taken goals by Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford, made it nine wins in the last ten league and cup games for a United side slowly, but surely, adapting to the Dutchman’s blend of inspiration and discipline.
It also set up an unlikely scenario, scarcely plausible just a few weeks ago when United lost the opening Manchester derby by a record 6-3 scoreline.
If City fail to win at Chelsea on Thursday then victory for Ten Hag in the return fixture a week on Saturday and United will move above their rivals in the Premier League table.
Man Utd player ratings
- De Gea 7
- Wan-Bissaka 7
- Lindelof 6
- Maguire 6
- Shaw 8
- Casemiro 9
- Eriksen 7
- Fernandes 7
- Van de Beek 6
- Rashford 7
- Martial 5
Substitutes:
- Dalot 6
- Martinez, N/A
- Fred 6
- Garnacho 6
- Elanga 6
Casemiro volleyed United into a 23rd minute lead with a superbly-worked opening goal from a free-kick awarded after Adam Smith fouled Rashford on the left wing.
Not for the first time this season, Christian Eriksen delivered a perfect centre and Casemiro was inexplicably left without a marker as he ran through to volley in from six yards.
It was a lead United deserved and one which was a reward, as well as presumably a relief, for Ten Hag after his slightly risky selection rotation.
Donny van de Beek was handed just his second Premier League start – and his first at Old Trafford – in 19 months although that move proved ill-fated.
In the final minute of the first half, the Dutchman limped off to be replaced by Alejandro Garnacho after a crunching foul by Marcos Senesi had left him with an injured right leg.
If van de Beek is struggling to find form under his former Ajax manager, he is one of the few United players whose form has not notably benefited from the new manager’s impact.
And Ten Hag, seeking what would be a fourth consecutive league win, also recalled Harry Maguire for his first start since the World Cup, leaving Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, who reached the Final in Qatar, on the bench.
It was a sign of Ten Hag’s growing confidence in his squad and one which, in the first half at least, was not misplaced.
Van de Beek might actually have made a spectacular start, as Casemiro’s lofted through ball played him into the area but the midfielder could not quite control the ball on his chest.
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And although there was a brief flurry of Bournemouth pressure after the opening goal – a Philip Billing free-kick deflected over, Dominic Solanke heading wide from a difficult chance – United defender well.
Eriksen threatened, from another set-piece, before the interval but saw his 20-yard free-kick deflect off Senesi and fly behind for a corner.
The second half opened in similar fashion, with Smith booked for a foul on Garnacho and, within three minutes of the restart, United had doubled their lead from a superb, flowing move.
Shaw started the move deep in his own half, with a one-two with Rashford, before driving into the final third and playing the ball to Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese slipped the ball wide to Garnacho and his accurate cross was met by Shaw, still sprinting forward and finishing from 12 yards.
As they had after conceding the first goal, the visitors responded well with De Gea forced to make saves in quick succession from Billing, Solanke and Jaidon Anthony.
But Rashford, dropped from the starting line-up for the weekend win at Wolverhampton Wanderers for disciplinary reasons, repaid his manager’s faith by completing the rout in the 87th minute, tapping in a Fernandes cross after a probing long ball from Shaw.
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