Erik ten Hag lauded the "magnificence" of David de Gea after he secured three points for Manchester United in their 1-0 win against West Ham.
De Gea superbly denied Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice in the last 10 minutes at Old Trafford, prompting West Ham manager David Moyes to opine De Gea had "saved" United.
The Spaniard has kept five clean sheets in the last six games and only Nick Pope and Ederson have recorded more shut-outs in the Premier League this season.
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De Gea, 31, was omitted from the Spain squad earlier this year and is not expected to be recalled for the World Cup but Ten Hag is pleased with his form.
"Everyone has his own opinion and his own philosophy," Ten Hag said. "For me, the first from a goalkeeper is you have to protect the goal, so make sure you don't concede goals and in that fact he is magnificent.
"And on the feet, for me, he has the capabilities as well. This season, he is progressing from game to game in that part. It has to do not only with the keeper but it has to do with the one in front: how do you give the keeper options to bring passes in. Because when they don't bring freedom or they are in the wrong positions, he doesn't have the options to pass around.
"But I am convinced he can do it and I think the games so far prove that. I think he will improve from game to game in that part."
De Gea has entered the last year of his United contract and the club has the option of an additional year. Ten Hag clarified earlier this month a decision is likely to be taken after the season is halted for the World Cup next month.
"What we said on this issue about negotiating from the whole squad, we said first we're focusing in this part of the season on the games and when we're coming to the end of this block and go to the World Cup, of course we have to think about that," Ten Hag reiterated. "And in the background we have strategies how to deal with it.
"But it's quite clear and I have emphasised it several times: I am really happy with David. He is a great goalkeeper, he is only 31, he is fit, he can progress even more. He was already impressing good for Man United and I think he will in the future as well."
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