The reasons behind David de Gea's unsettled start in the Premier League have been explained by Manchester United's former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

The 22-year-old was criticised for some of his early performances at United and Steele has revealed the sub-par displays were down to a combination of poor diet and attitude in training.

"There were lifestyle issues," he told United We Stand fanzine. "He'd sleep two or three times a day. He'd have his main meal late at night. He'd eat too many tacos.

"We pushed protein drinks on him straight after training. We had him in the gym a lot. He hated it. They don't do the gym in Spain as much. We needed to build his core strength.

"He would finish training and want to go home. When I told him to come back in the afternoon he'd ask: 'Why?'

"There were times in his first season when he trained poorly. I told him that players made decisions for managers, not the other way around. That he should be first, not last out for training."
Monday, September 30, 2013 12:00

Sports »  Soccer/Football

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