David de Gea suggests lack of quality could be cause for Man Utd's inconsistent form

0:49 David de Gea says Manchester United's second-half performance against Sheffield United was important David de Gea says Manchester United's second-half performance against Sheffield United was important

David de Gea says Manchester United's inconsistent run of form could be down to a 'lack of quality' in the squad.

United were seconds away from securing their first back-to-back Premier League wins of the season against Sheffield United on Sunday but a late Oli McBurnie equaliser denied them a comeback win at Bramall Lane.

De Gea knows that the squad has been putting in work on the training ground, but says an improvement in performance is much needed if they want to rise up from their 9th spot in the table when they host Aston Villa on Sunday.

"The team is what it is, and results are what they have been recently," De Gea told Sky Sports News. "It's true that the first half was horrible, probably one of the worst this year.

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"The reaction of the team in the second half was important, but it's not enough. We should win these type of games to be on top, we need to win four or five games in a row to be at the top, but at the moment the team is not playing so well.

"We're giving it everything, we're trying to get those big wins that can put us high up in the table, but the truth is at the moment we're not consistent enough, there's much to train and much to improve.

"I don't think it's through any lack of effort, the boys are leaving everything out on the field in training and games. You could point maybe to a lack of quality in certain areas, but certainly not a lack of fight."

United scored three goals in seven minutes at Bramall Lane to come back from a 2-0 deficit

De Gea is one of the mainstays of Manchester United's squad, having entered his ninth season at the club since moving from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

The Spain international, who signed a new deal in September keeping him at Old Trafford until 2023 at least, admitted he is feeling settled in Manchester.

"The truth is I feel like at home here," De Gea said. "There are times when I am in Spain and I'm really looking forward to coming back here, at home in Manchester.

"We've been here for a lot of years and I feel like people appreciate me here, I've made a lot of friends and I'm thrilled to be part of this club.

"It's been a long time that I've been playing here and it's not an easy thing to keep playing at the highest level and to maintain that level.

"I personally hope that we can get more accolades in years to come by working hard and playing to that same high level."

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'De Gea seemed fed up with United's problems'

Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper says: "Missing a trip to Kazakhstan where a young Manchester United squad stayed on UK time to combat a seven-hour time difference was not enough to enthuse David de Gea, who seemed fed up with the club's current problems - bemoaning the lack of quality.

"There was plenty of honesty from the Spaniard who declared there is enough fight and effort among the squad, but suggested people couldn't trust the current players when it comes to providing wins and not defeats.

"De Gea was influential as Manchester United fought back from a lethargic start at Sheffield United last week, taking a throw-in which led to the first of the visitors three goals and producing a double save which kept them in the game in the first half.

"The United keeper admitted it was the first time he's taken a throw-in in the game and just wanted to get his team-mates on the front foot at Bramall Lane.

"This weekend his opposite number is a former United youngster, Aston Villa's Tom Heaton and De Gea's expecting him to produce a typically inspired performance at Old Trafford."