Louis van Gaal: David de Gea "improves every week"

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes that goalkeeper David de Gea is improving his game with each passing week.

The 24-year-old, who initially made a slow start to life at Old Trafford following his £17.8m move from Atletico Madrid three years ago, has been in inspired form this season to win his side a number of points.

De Gea was forced into making a string of key stops in last night's 2-1 victory over Stoke City, which led to Van Gaal hailing his keeper's heroics once more.

"De Gea is a goalkeeper so he has to stop them," the United boss is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News. "I think he has two or three shots on his goal and that is it.

"It is very difficult for a goalkeeper to keep the concentration and the focus but he improves every week so I am happy with him."

The Red Devils have now won four games on the bounce in the Premier League to stake their claim for a top-four spot.