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Erik ten Hag has backed David De Gea despite the slide that loosened Manchester United’s grip on their final Champions League place.
Goalkeeper De Gea is in talks for a new contract at Old Trafford but hasn’t exactly improved his negotiating position after letting Said Benrahma’s hopeful shot from 20 yards bounce off his glove condemn United to a 1-0 defeat at West Ham.
They are now just a point clear of a rapidly advancing Liverpool side, albeit with a game to spare, following their eighth away defeat this season and second in four days after the last-gasp defeat in Brighton.
“Frustrating? Yes, I saw it the same way. I think we started well, dictated the game, created chances, didn’t take them and then a mistake,» said United boss Ten Hag.
“Two individual errors and you lose the games. But it is what it is. Now we have a full week, we need to reset, reload and move on.
“(De Gea) has the most clean sheets in the Premier League, we wouldn’t be in this position without him. No worries. It happens but as a team you have to deal with it, show character and resilience.
«We want him to stay and extend his contract.»
Lukasz Fabianski made late saves from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, but Ten Hag’s side offered little in their 57th game of a grueling season which, like Liverpool, they could simply make up for.
But Ten Hag insisted: “Nothing has changed. We could have made it easier with a win. We need three wins from four matches, it’s all in our hands.
“Fatigue is in your head. If you have the will you can take it. It’s up to the players and the staff to come together, to have the will to do it.
United’s defeat could prove as costly for the visitors as it is invaluable for West Ham, who have moved up seven points above the relegation zone and are now surely safe.
It was the first win against his former club for Hammers manager David Moyes since he took charge at Everton in August 2012 and a huge boost ahead of this week’s Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar.
«It’s a huge step, getting three points is huge against anyone, but against Manchester United it was huge for us,» said Moyes.
“It’s a great result to enter a European semi-final and we get a lot of confidence from it. We have another big challenge and we are looking forward to tackling it.»
Hammers skipper Declan Rice put on another fantastic display, showing why the likes of United, Arsenal and Chelsea are consistently linked with him this summer.
“Tonight was outstanding. It’s great in all terrain, very fast. I’m pleased, but not surprised,” Moyes added.
«That’s why he’s probably the best England midfielder around and it’s going to be extremely expensive if someone replaces him.»
