Steele analyses De Gea's year

De Gea had to deal with an enormous level of scrutiny from the media after his arrival and was fiercely criticised in some quarters during the early part of his United career.

"I think it was over the top but it was a good thing that it just went straight over his head," added Steele. "Probably the fact he didn't really command the language in the early two or three months would've been a help but he still had e-mail contact from back home so he knew what was being said. But, if you dealt with him day-to-day and would see him on the field, if it was bothering him it didn't show in terms of training and his attitude off the field."

The Spaniard had to contend with a number of issues when sealing his move, including finding a new property and learning the language and was thrown in at the deep end against local rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield.

"It wasn't what the manager and I expected and the rest of the staff," added Steele. "We knew it would be a gradual process and would've liked to dip him in and out a bit more but we couldn't do that.

"It doesn't do any harm coming out of the firing line, set aside and look and reflect. He'd never had his game analysed like we try and help him. I'm not going along with the bandwagon theory as some of his performances in the first three or four months were still exceptional.

"There are that many different firsts he had to contend with, number one if you make an error at Old Trafford, how do you react? So his mistake management was brilliant as it didn't affect him. The next thing is to go to the biggest grounds and play, and contend with The Kop.