million move from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011 but is now a key figure at Old Trafford and has impressed this season behind a defence shorn of experienced veterans Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra in the summer and decimated by injuries.
Schmeichel, who won 10 major honours in eight trophy-laden years with United under Alex Ferguson, believes De Gea has silenced his doubters and been Van Gaal's most reliable player this season. "He's doing really well," the Dane told Goal. I think he's the only player in the squad who performs consistently every time. Last season he was the only player who consistently brought any kind of quality to Manchester United. "Last season was good for him because it washed away all that happened before. He won the championship in the year before but there was still this doubt about him and I think he washed that away with his performances." United are still searching for their identity under Van Gaal but a run of five consecutive wins - including victories over Arsenal and Southampton - have lifted them up to third in the Premier League after 15 matches.
"That's how you win championships. That's how you qualify for the Champions League," Schmeichel added. "Last season, as soon as they came under pressure and went behind, they would lose the game which is very unlike Manchester United. "To get results and play the way they played against Southampton and win that game, it was hugely important. "At no point in that game were they impressive but that was the kind of game they would lose last season so that's a very big positive." De Gea United will be bidding to make it six wins in a row when they host Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday
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