However, the side has been criticised for lacking creativity and fans have booed recent displays, while the Dutchman’s emphasis on possession has led to damning assessments from former players, among them Paul Scholes, who labelled the team “boring”.
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The 25-year-old was excluded from the United squad at the start of the season by Louis van Gaal amid the uncertainty.
Despite the style of play that van Gaal has adopted not setting the division on fire, United have plenty of individual talents available and competing for the four most progressive positions in the team.
“It hasn’t been great for 13 months, but I better not say too much because Louis might be listening!”, Scholes joked.
“There’s been talk of a philosophy, a process”, said Scholes.
And De Gea paid tribute to the United fans for welcoming back despite the drama around his future.
“Nobody wants to see that type of football because at the end of the day we’re in the entertainment business”. I want to buy a lot of players but not all the players I want are for sale. “I really appreciated it”. We have a normal relationship between a coach and player.
“These are decisions for the coach, but in my team he would always play”, said De Gea.
The former midfielder has won 11 league titles with United and is not willing to shy away from criticising what he believes is going against the grain at Old Trafford.
“He was an undisputed starter before and Player of the Year at United”. But, of course, during that you have to win, you have to get results and you have to score.
And three of those seven strikes came in one game – a 4-0 Champions League qualifying-round romp at Club Brugge in August.
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Man United have scored fewer times than the top 6 sides and went 430 minutes (all games) without a goal prior to Rooney’s header versus CSKA Moscow. He was always the same: very silent and very calm but, when he was on the pitch, he was the best.
