Erik ten Hag has claimed Manchester United still want to extend David de Gea’s contract despite his latest howler. De Gea allowed Said Benrahma’s underhit shot to trickle through his palms for West Ham’s winner in United’s second successive 1-0 away defeat. United have been in discussions with De Gea about a new contract for the best part of a year, with the 32-year-old’s existing deal due to expire in June. The club have not triggered the one-year extension in De Gea’s contract as it would mean his salary rises to £375,000-a-week if United qualify for the Champions League. United want to negotiate a salary reduction. De Gea was culpable for all three of Sevilla’s goals in United’s Europa League ejection last month and his errors have directly led to four goals this season.
Erik Ten Hag said: “He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League. So we would not be in this position without him. So he has fully my belief, no concerns, that happens but as a team you have to deal with it, you have to show character, be resilient and bounce back and this team will do.”
When asked if De Gea would be his No.1 for the long-term,
Erik Ten Hag replied: “We want him to stay and we want him to extend his contract.”
United performed positively prior to Benrahma’s 27th-minute winner but Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford and Antony failed to hit the target from inviting angles. With more than 70 minutes gone, the recalled Wout Weghorst was the only United player who had attempted a clean shot on target.
Erik ten hag said: “Yes, I’ve seen it in the same way. I think we started well, we dictated the game, we created chances, we didn’t take them and then one mistake. But even then until half-time I think we played a very decent game. And in three days, two individual mistake leads to you losing games. Disappointed but it is what it is and now we are one week, the first time since Christmas that those players have a full week, we have to reset reload, get the energy back and keep going.”
Liverpool are now only a point behind United, still in fourth and with a game in hand as they aim to qualify for the Champions League. United require three wins from their final four matches and three of those fixtures are at Old Trafford, where they have only dropped five points all season. Away from home, United have won seven out of 18.
Erik ten hag said: “Nothing changes, we could’ve made it easier with a win but we need three wins in four games. So everything is in our hands and we have to believe. It’s not about Liverpool, it’s about us because if you look to the table and have everything in our hands. If we bring our performance and standards we will win games. We don’t have to look to others, we have to look to ourselves to find a way to win.”
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