Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea admits he is relishing the chance to play under new boss Erik ten Hag next season.
United sealed a place in the Europa League during Sunday’s final day of the season despite suffering a 1-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace, with Ralf Rangnick’s side finishing sixth ahead of West Ham in the Premier League table in the last game of the German’s interim spell in charge.
The Red Devils will now be heading into next season in England’s top-flight and Europe with Ten Hag at the helm, who leaves Ajax after guiding the Dutch side to a second consecutive Eredivisie title. With the Dutch season finishing earlier than the English Premier League, Ten Hag was in attendance at Selhurst Park to watch his new team in action and saw them stumble to a final day defeat away at Palace.
Goalkeeper De Gea, who kept eight clean sheets during the Premier League, has expressed his excitement to work with his new Dutch boss and is hoping next season will be much better than a disappointing 2021/22 campaign.
“I cannot wait [to play under Erik ten Hag],” De Gea told BBC Sport. “I am excited for the next season, new manager, new players. Hopefully we will improve put Manchester United in a better position. We need to trust in the future."
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United and Arsenal are the two English sides to qualify for the Europa League, with both sides’ fate being confirmed on a dramatic final day of the campaign which also saw Manchester City pip Liverpool to the title with a 3-2 win over Aston Villa.
Ten Hag’s new side were in danger of dropping down to the Europa Conference League next season following their loss to Patrick Vieira’s side. Fortunately for them, West Ham United’s 3-1 defeat away at Brighton and Hove Albion kept Man Utd in sixth as the Hammers go into next season’s Europa Conference League.
United have a good recent record in the Europa League. While it is Europe’s second-best club competition, they did win it in the 2016/17 campaign. They also finished as runners up in 2020/21 and reached the semi finals in 2019/20.
There is expected to be a major transfer overhaul at Old Trafford in the summer. Of the starting 11 that played against Palace on Sunday afternoon, Rangnick confirmed that ten of them would be staying, with Edinson Cavani the only starter set to be departing.
United are also set to lose midfielder Paul Pogba on a free transfer while other players have been linked with summer exits, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.
The Red Devils are set to miss out on the signing of Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara. The midfielder, who was linked with interest from United, is reportedly close to joining Villa.
