David de Gea gives Erik ten Hag something he can't really afford to lose at Manchester United

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