Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that David de Gea "played a fantastic season" amid the ongoing criticism surrounding the Spaniard.
The 32-year-old won the Golden Glove for the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, keeping 17 clean sheets in the competition, while he ended the season with 25 clean sheets in 58 games at club level.
De Gea has made some high-profile errors this season, though, notably against Sevilla in the Europa League and West Ham United in the Premier League.
The goalkeeper's performance against Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday has also been criticised, as he allowed an untidy shot from Ilkay Gundogan to find the bottom corner early in the second period.
Ten Hag was again asked about De Gea during his post-match press conference, with the stopper's contract at Old Trafford due to expire at the end of the month.
"In this moment, I don't want to talk about such issues of criticism because we played all a great season - including David de Gea, he played a fantastic season. Say it like this, we are in the right direction," Ten Hag told reporters when questioned on the Spaniard.
After the contest at Wembley, former Man United captain Roy Keane urged the Red Devils to bring a new number one goalkeeper to the club this summer.
"City have done this set piece before with someone from the edge of the box. He doesn't hit it that cleanly and it goes through bodies but United have to get a new keeper," Keane told ITV.
"They need a world-class striker and a goalkeeper, and other players for strength in depth too. I am sick of saying it. A top goalkeeper saves that. They get you over the line in big games and that could have been the difference today.
"They need a world-class goalkeeper and he isn't. We will keep talking about it. Some of these players aren't good enough for United. They have to spend the money to get the players United deserve."
De Gea made the move to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid in 2011, and he has represented Man United on 545 occasions in all competitions.
Speaking towards the end of last month, Ten Hag revealed that he was confident the experienced goalkeeper would sign a new deal in Manchester.
Tom Heaton, who is Man United's number two, also only has a contract at Old Trafford until the end of the month, while number three Jack Butland is only on loan from Crystal Palace.
Dean Henderson is set to return to the club this summer following a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, but the Englishman is not thought to be in Ten Hag's plans moving forward. body check tags ::
