Tyrell Malacia set a target of 20 appearances in his first Manchester United season. His start against Aston Villa was his 36th.
The 23-year-old was elected as United's mixed zone representative at Old Trafford on Sunday, a logical choice after what was Malacia's most accomplished performance since his purple patch back in late August and early September.
United's defeat of Villa was their 15th clean sheet in the Premier League this term and Villa failed to score for the first time under Unai Emery. Malacia's sliding tackles on John McGinn and Ashley Young in the first half generated rousing roars of approval from the United matchgoers.
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Malacia musters two words when prompted to discuss United's clean-sheet record but, thankfully, he is not as disengaged an interviewee as Emma Raducanu in Madrid last week.
"I think from now until the last game of the season it's important points so we have to win every game now," Malacia says. "It's not good that we dropped points [at Tottenham] but today we played good and important points.
"Yeah, [the atmosphere in the dressing room] was good, but we have to focus now on Brighton. We have to move on."
Malacia ousted Luke Shaw from the side back in August and is now playing alongside his fellow left-back when he has become accustomed to having Lisandro Martinez to his right.
Shaw has fared phenomenally in the absence of Martinez, on crutches and in the dressing room vicinity after the Villa win. Shaw has started nine times at centre half in a duo this term and United are unbeaten in all nine.
"We're helping each other before the game, before training, we always talk to each other. It's good," Malacia explains. "From the beginning I came here he always talks to me.
"We have a lot of quality in the team, so if someone drops out you know we have someone there with qualities as well."
Malacia became Ten Hag's first signing when he instructed United to hijack Lyon's move for the Netherlands international in a prudent €17million deal. Any evidence of Dutch solidarity has been scarce, for Malacia was ruthlessly hooked at the interval in successive games at Manchester City and Omonia Nicosia in October when Shaw regained his role.
Yet Malacia was entrusted against City in the reverse fixture in January when United prevailed in a 2-1 comeback win with Shaw at centre half; possibly some unwitting preparation for the FA Cup final.
"That's why he bought me, because he trusts me," Malacia clarifies. Is Ten Hag always demanding?
"Always, always. With everyone. So it's a good thing because it keeps us sharp and you have to be on your A-game, especially because he said we are a big club so we need to win prizes, we have to be on our A-game."
He's demanding about everything?
"Everything. It's good because you see it work, so it's always good then. I don't feel pressure, it's okay, I'm just happy to be on the pitch and playing football is what I want to do. That's what I dreamt of doing. So why should I be pressured?"
Malacia insists the Cup final is not a distraction. "No, I think we have a lot of experienced players who have been in these kind of situations, so we keep each other like a team and we focus on qualification for the Champions League."
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