ERIK:DE GEA IN NEED OF HAPPY FEET

ERIK TEN HAG has told David De Gea he must improve his footwork if he is to remain Manchester United’s No.1 goalkeeper.

De Gea is out of contract next month but Ten Hag (both, above) insists he wants the Spaniard to stay and that the 32-year-old also wants to sign a new deal.

But the manager has warned De Gea he must get better with his feet if he is to keep his place, with United scouring the market for a new keeper.

Ten Hag also said it is up to United skipper Harry Maguire to decide if he must leave, after losing his place as a regular starter.

Replying to a question about what a modern goalkeeper needs, Ten Hag said: “It’s not what I want (top footwork), it’s more what top football demands nowadays.

“If you observe teams, you have to be capable of playing from the back and use your keeper as a plus one. “David had to step up. In a number of games, he showed progression.”

Addressing Maguire’s situation, Ten Hag said: “He has high competition there with Raphael Varane, who’s fantastic.

“No one would be happy with this situation. He’s not as well. He trains always on best levels, with 100 per cent effort.

“So he handles that situation well and he’s in that manner and in his captaincy he’s important for the squad.

“Let’s say I’m happy he’s here and when we needed him he did his job, but it’s also a decision he has to make.”

As for the present, De Gea says United are determined to upset the odds and wreck Manchester City’s bid to match their historic Treble.

United and City meet in the first all-Manchester FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday. Victory over United will leave City needing to beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final to match their local rivals’ Treble of 1999.

De Gea said: “We know it’s a big final, a special game, and we will try absolutely everything to try to win.”