Manchester United might have discovered a contender to replace Harry Maguire as club captain

When the going has got tough for Manchester United this season, David de Gea has not been afraid to mince his words.

The Spaniard, who is likely to scoop the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for a fifth time since joining the club in 2011 at the end of the season, has often acted as chief-spokesman in the midst of United storms this season. He was the first to take to social media after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Wolves in January and found himself in the same boat after the 4-1 drubbing to Manchester City last month.

On Saturday, after United's 1-0 defeat to Everton, however, he did not require the power of social media to express his frustrations. Instead, he used his post-match interview with BT Sport to make his feelings known on another calamitous performance.

READ MORE: Only nine Manchester United players might be truly committed in this shambolic squad

He said: "I don't know what to say, to be honest. We knew before today they were struggling and how difficult it was going to be.

"It's not the perfect atmosphere. You see today they [Everton] were tired, nervous, they keep fighting, they had more desire.

"It's not acceptable. They played Wednesday and they were tired but they had more desire than us, that is not acceptable.

"Very sad to lose. It is a disgrace from us. We should be winning this game."

'Disgrace', 'not acceptable' and 'not the perfect atmosphere'. De Gea was not afraid to be truthful, even if it offered an insight into the sorry state of life inside the United dressing room.

But even though it painted a negative picture of the current mood in the squad, you have to credit De Gea for standing up, being brutally honest and leading by example. The former Atletico Madrid man, during a