De Gea: We can defend title

David de Gea is confident Manchester United can hold on to their slender lead and claim their second successive Premier League title this season.

United were bundled out of the Europa League by Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, and with fellow title challengers Manchester City also eliminated, by Sporting Lisbon, both Manchester giants are free to focus on their domestic campaigns.

And having got their noses in front of City last weekend, de Gea believes United can go on to win the league.

“It is very important for us now to try and secure the Premier League,” the former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper told The Telegraph.

“We are first. We are the leaders. Manchester City are in good form but we have the team and the supporters to win the league.”

“We have a big game coming up at Wolves on Sunday and that is what we must concentrate on now.”

The 21-year-old has endured a torrid first season in English football, coming in for frequent criticism earlier in the campaign.

He briefly lost his first-team place before growing in stature and confidence in the last couple of months with some assured performances and outstanding saves.

In both legs of United’s Europa League tie against the impressive Bilbao, de Gea underlined the progress he has made, establishing a more dominant presence in his own penalty area.

“The English league is a bit more aggressive (than La Liga) but football is football,” he said. “There is no real difference.”

“Little by little I feel my confidence in England is growing.”

“In the beginning it was all new, the place, the country, the team. But gradually I am getting used to everything and hopefully that continues.”