Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has indicated that David de Gea’s brilliance this season has shielded the Red Devils defenders from criticism.
The 0-0 draw at West Ham on Thursday night ensured Manchester United will finish the season second in the Premier League and it also confirmed De Gea in winning the Golden Glove award.
The Spaniard, who was again voted the club’s Player of the Year for this season, has kept 18 clean sheets in the league this term, two more than Manchester City’s Ederson.
Meulensteen was on Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching staff when Manchester United signed De Gea in 2012 and he clearly remembers his early struggles to get used to English football.
But he admits De Gea’s growth has been phenomenal to watch and indicated that his brilliance between the sticks has shielded some shoddy defending from Manchester United.
relatedNewsStory
Meulensteen said on MUTV’s Match Day Review programme: “I can still remember the time he came to the club first and took a little time to settle in, like most players who come from abroad.
“Of course I can understand that it’s a team effort, this and that but we know what he has done.
“I think we can all look at glimpses where basically David de Gea saved a lot of times the work from the defenders.
“He definitely deserves the Golden Glove.”
The 27-year-old has had 118 clean sheets in 314 appearances for Manchester United since joining the club in 2011.
