Goalkeeper David de Gea has sent a powerful message to Manchester United's supporters following Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, becoming the first United player to break his silence on social media since the game in the process.
Two goals each from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez either side of the half-time interval were enough to record a comfortable victory for City, ensuring they completed a league double over their cross-city rivals. Jadon Sancho brought United level after De Bruyne's fifth-minute opener but that was as good as the afternoon got for them.
City, who have regained a six-point cushion at the top with their latest three-point haul, toyed with United after Mahrez netted his first and his side's third, with 'ole's ringing out from the home fans as they dominated possession. United were woeful in the second-half and failed to register a single shot, highlighting their troubles.
However, goalkeeper De Gea, who was, once again, not helped by a weak defensive line in front of him, has refused to shy away from the criticism that has been vented at United by their supporters. He has issued a powerful message, delivering a promise to the fans.
On Twitter, the Spaniard said: "We will, one day, get this club back to where it deserves to be. Today was another bad moment in a difficult season but when we still have this shirt to defend we will not give up."
De Gea, although the scoreline showed that he conceded four times, was one of United's better players. He made an excellent stop to deny Phil Foden in the build-up to City's second goal and he received no help from his defenders for the third.
On his side's display, United interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who has the challenge of picking his players up ahead of next Saturday's tussle with Tottenham Hotspur, said: "[It is] frustrating for the players, for us because [after the third goal] we realised that it would probably be difficult to get back into that game.
"[It is disappointing] for everybody, not only for our supporters, for the players, for the whole staff, obviously you want to win a derby but we just have to admit that in the second half, especially after the third one, they showed what kind of top quality team they have."
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