Erik ten Hag sends message to ‘progressing’ Manchester United pair

Both De Gea and Dalot have played every Premier League and Europa League game under Ten Hag, with the Dutchman clearly not seeing too much competition for them in the United squad.

Dalot has rarely been first choice at right-back since moving to Old Trafford in 2018, but has now locked down the position, with Ten Hag pleased with his improvement and calling for more.

‘I hope he keeps progressing, not only sticking to this level,’ Ten Hag told a press conference on Wednesday. ‘Our approach is good is not good enough, you have to do better.

‘We’re really happy with the development of Diogo but I know every club at the top needs backup and competition. I think we can replace him with Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, and luckily Aaron Wan-Bissaka is back from injury.

‘It’s heavy when you have to play every game but he is physically good profile and he needs to keep developing. We’re confident he will do that.’

There were questions over how adaptable De Gea would be to Ten Hag’s style of play, which has more focus on the goalkeeper playing out with his feet from the back.

De Gea looked shaky in this area in the first couple of games of the season, but is improving and his manager thinks there is more to come.

‘Focus for me for a goalkeeper is to get clean sheets, protect his goal,’ said Ten Hag. ‘But this football it’s important to work with your feet, in the past it maybe a different style for him. But since I’ve been here and before I’ve seen on video content De Gea is capable, it’s no problem for David to do that.

‘I think he proves it in last games that he will grow and grow. Keep progressing and get more clean sheets.’

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