Manchester United’s Defence Is Thriving Under Erik Ten Hag

At the final whistle David De Gea turned to the Manchester United fans behind his goal in Old Trafford’s East stand and roared with delight with his fists tightly clenched to mark his side’s 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday.

This was a special moment for the Spaniard as goalkeepers rarely get to celebrate saves in the same manner as strikers enjoy their goals.

But in the final minute of the game, with United desperately holding on to their narrow lead, the West Ham midfielder Declan Rice curled a shot towards goal that looked to be heading in before De Gea leapt to his left and tipped the ball over the cross bar.

Ten minutes earlier Kurt Zouma’s header had also looked to be heading into the United net, but De Gea got a hand to that as well. “I don’t know how he saved it, but top keepers produce top saves,” remarked Marcus Rashford after the game.

When the referee signalled the end of the game and that United had secured all three points De Gea was quick to turn around and share his joy with the fans.

His team-mates Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot, who both delivered stirring performances of their own, quickly joined their goalkeeper.

This was United’s last game at Old Trafford for nearly two months as domestic football will soon take a break for the World Cup finals in Qatar.

De Gea himself won’t be at the tournament as it is understood the Spanish manager Luis Enrique has omitted him from his 55-man provisional squad. He chose five goalkeepers, but De Gea still didn’t make the list, which could have inspired his performance on Sunday.

“Everyone has his own opinion but for me, the first thing for a goalkeeper is to protect the goal and make sure you don’t concede goals,” the United manager Erik ten Hag said after the game. “In that fact he is magnificent.

“But with the feet he has capabilities as well. That is not only with the keeper but also the one in front and what options you give to bring passes in. I am convinced he can do it. The games so far he proved it.”

“I am really happy with David. He is a great goalkeeper. He is only 31. He is fit. He can progress even more. He was already impressive for Manchester United and I think he will do that in the future as well.”

In a season in which United have conceded four goals to Brentford and six goals to Manchester City, this was a win built on a highly impressive defensive performance.

In front of De Gea, Martinez put on another exemplary display, full of passion and his street-fighting qualities. He has become quickly adored by the Old Trafford crowd and left the pitch to them chanting “Argentina” in his honour.

For the first time since that disastrous afternoon at Brentford, Harry Maguire lined up alongside Martinez at the heart of the United defence.

At first the England man looked uncomfortable and short of confidence as he gave acres of space to West Ham’s attackers and a succession of his passes were intercepted.

But in the second half Maguire visibly grew in stature and played a leading role in United protecting their lead, winning a series of headers, and diving in with crucial tackles. He was in the right place to stop Jarrod Bowen’s late goal bound effort.

And not to be outdone by his defensive colleagues Luke Shaw was possibly the best of all of them; solid in defence, he also surged forward with countless threatening runs. He appears to be a player reborn who has benefited from the competition provided by Tyrell Malacia who Ten Hag signed in the summer.

It has now been eight hours since United conceded a goal at Old Trafford, a run that has encompassed six games from the final half an hour of their Europa League game against Real Sociedad to the end of their win over West Ham on Sunday.

United have now registered five consecutive clean sheets at Old Trafford, against Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham in the Premier League, and against Omonia and Sheriff in the Europa League.

If the horror shows against City and Brentford are removed from the record, United have conceded just 6 goals in 10 Premier League games this season.

While United have struggled to score goals this season to Ten Hag’s obvious annoyance, his defence continues to thrive and provide his fledgling project with an increasingly impressive foundation.