(Manchester United News)
Manchester United enter the final straight in the race for the Barclays Premier League top four with a home game against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Following the latest international break, it’s domestic action all the way from here on in, with the Reds playing on each of the eight weekends between now and the last Sunday of the season on 24 May.
Tough tests against the three sides above United in the table await but, after the back-to-back wins over Tottenham and Liverpool, Louis van Gaal’s men are upbeat and well placed to secure the top-four spot that has always been the goal this term.
"We have to qualify for the Champions League no matter what," goalkeeper David De Gea told FIFA.com
earlier this week. "We already missed out last season, and a team like Manchester United cannot do that two years in a row."
As we approach a stage in the season famously described by Sir Alex Ferguson as 'squeaky-bum time', United will need cool heads to achieve the necessary results.
And in De Gea, the Reds have one of the most level-headed shot-stoppers in the business. It’s a trait that has helped the Spaniard enjoy another superb season – and, he feels, aided the rest of his team-mates.
"I’m a composed, calm type, which helps me in my profession," De Gea said. "As a keeper, you need to convey a sense of calm to the rest of the team."
United currently have 59 points, one less than Arsenal, and it’s no exaggeration to say De Gea has won several of them single-handedly with some breathtaking stops.
The 24-year-old is the club’s reigning Player of the Year and will surely be one of the front-runners for the award again when the voting opens later this month. Those who doubted him when he first arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2011 have long been silenced.
"English football has changed me a great deal," he said. "I’ve developed a lot physically, greatly improved my concentration and generally improved all aspects of my game.
"I was very young when I came here, but four years on things are very good overall. This league really suits me as you learn a lot here."
De Gea, who played in Spain’s friendly against the Netherlands on Tuesday, has enjoyed working with compatriot Victor Valdes, one of the keepers who kept him out of the victorious Spain squad for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
"Victor Valdes and I work very well together – I’m very happy to be with him," De Dea added. "I’m learning so much from him, not just in goalkeeping terms given his immense experience, but also as a person.
"He’s a very straightforward guy with a lot of character. Moreover, he’s always ready to lend a hand, trying to help out with his advice, especially during games."
