David de Gea warns second place is 'not enough' for Manchester United

The Spaniard wants United to end their wait for a league title next season

David de Gea poses with the Golden Gloves goalkeeping award (Getty)

David de Gea has said Manchester United must not be satisfied with finishing as Premier League runners-up this season, claiming second place is “not enough”.

United enjoyed their best league season since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 this term but still ended 19 points behind champions Manchester City.

De Gea, named United’s player of the year for the fourth time earlier this month, has now urged his team-mates to help end their five-year wait for league title.

“I believe that, for a club like United, even second place is simply not enough,” he told United Review.

“We have to be fighting hard to win something and we have that opportunity next week. You get nothing for coming second or getting close to the league leaders.

“In the end, you always have to be fighting to win something, as that’s what this club and the fans really deserve and so it’s just that - second place is not enough.”

United’s season could yet end with silverware though, as Chelsea await Jose Mourinho’s side in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

For De Gea, it is a chance to win the world’s oldest football competition for a second time having lifted the trophy in 2016 under Louis van Gaal.

“It’s what this club has an obligation to do - get through to cup finals, go on to win them, lift silverware and continue to make this club even bigger,” the 27-year-old added.

“I believe that’s the most important thing, always being in the shake-up, fighting to win trophies and battling to keep making United exactly what it is - a massive, massive club.”

De Gea will compete with United’s second-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero for a place in Mourinho’s Wembley starting line-up.

Romero started each of United’s FA Cup tie prior to last month’s semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, which he missed through injury.