David de Gea held Aston Villa in check in Manchester United’s FA Cup win (Image: Matthew Peters / Manchester United via Getty Images)
Ralf Rangnick had David de Gea to thank again when Manchester United advanced past Aston Villa into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Scott McTominay’s first-half header proved crucial to the Red Devils’ progress in the competition and set up the home game against Middlesbrough.
While the midfielder was recognized for his performance as Man of the Game, Rangnick raved about De Gea’s performance in goal.
“We have to develop the team into a clean sheet team and that was different today, but David de Gea was still outstanding for me today,” he said.
“I would have liked him to have fewer saves overall. I think we had four or five shots on goal, but we can still improve in that area.”
The Spaniard has had busier nights in his career, but when he was deployed he stood upright. Matty Cash made one of his best saves in the second half from an acute angle.
Rangnick wanted a reaction from his side after their disappointing 1-0 loss to Wolves last time, but United were nowhere near convincing against a dominating Villa.
Scott McTominay fired Manchester United into the fourth round of the FA Cup (Image: Matthew Peters / Manchester United via Getty Images)
Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof both weathered difficult games and Rangnick’s wish to see his team in the press is still in the works.
When asked if his side was making progress, he replied, “Yes. To say this was a perfect game no one would believe. Of course it wasn’t.
“We still have a few things we can do even better, but conceding a goal today was important and we worked together.
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“There are still a lot of things to improve, but with a 1-0 win it’s easier.
“Am I satisfied with the draw against Middlesbrough? Yes, that was the goal today: try to get through.
“We knew it from the moment we got the draw” [against Villa]that there could have been easier draws.
“But we won it anyway. And now, in five days, we’re going to play it again in Birmingham. It’s going to be another tough, tough game for us. ‘
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