The United side have received its fair share of criticism this season, with many proclaiming a the very start of the season that the side would struggle to make the top four, and the persistent accusations throughout the season that the side simply isn't good enough, despite consistently impressive League displays.
There have been periods as always in which the side have suffered from a poor run of form, but just as they always seem to do, the United players have continued to do what they do best, and gain points persistently whilst others falter and drop them.
Having been behind City for much of the season, United are now five points clear and in fantastic form, and while it can be said that this is down to a collective team show of grit and determination, there is one man who has been a catalyst in the sides recent surge of success. He was at one point the centre of attention at Old Trafford, with the spotlight shining brightly on his oddly assembled chin of hair - or as some people bravely called it; a "beard" - and eyes burned into him with an explicit desire for him to fail.
I am of course talking of David de Gea, United's "dodgy Dave", "doughnut Dave" or just United's "summer flop." The beginning of his Manchester United career was not the greatest, and all at United acknowledged that he must improve - a process which was expected to take a small while as he settled in England and developed an understanding of and stability in the English game.
Dropped from the first team and still a worry when played, de Gea was something of a liability, even for his most ardent of supporters - of which there were many. He had been incredibly unlucky, but he had also made some avoidable mistakes for which he was heavily criticised as critics circled like vultures, waiting for his next mistake.
As some began to place the young Spaniard in the rather crowded category of Manchester United goalkeeping disasters, De Gea continued to work on the training ground and build up strength physically and mentally to meet the challenge of being the number one goalkeeper for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Thankfully for United, when he was thrown in at the deep end once again, their goalkeeper was not only able to stay afloat, but could also swim rather well too. He has in such a short space of time adapted to his surroundings and has turned into currently one of United's most consistent performers.
It is no coincidence that Manchester United have conceded the least goals out of any Premier League side in their past six games, with just two being fired past de Gea in the United goal, and that is despite United's goalkeepers having to save the most amount of shots out of all of the 'keepers in the top four.
The 21 year-old goalkeepers' form has been crucial to United's, with saves of the highest quality being showcased aplenty by a man previously lamented for being incompetent or simply unable to save the simplest of shots.
But proving his critics wrong will be far from his greatest achievement come the end of the season. Winning the Premier League will be ranked far higher for him and for Manchester United. Wayne Rooney recently said "it would definitely be one of the best titles we've ever won if we can do it," - and if United can "do it," de Gea can certainly claim a huge part of that fantastic success.
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