Two players in Champions League Final showed Erik ten Hag one thing he must change at Manchester United

Manchester City won the Champions League on Saturday evening to secure The Treble, equalling Manchester United’s biggest achievement.

That stings. But it also seemed inevitable.

Pep Guardiola’s team has continued to get better and better over the years whilst those at Old Trafford have been making the same mistakes since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

Under Erik ten Hag, fortunes look like they’re beginning to change at Old Trafford – but the club – and manager – cannot risk stagnating in the upcoming summer transfer window.

And whilst you can probably name at least six positions or players that need upgrading, the Champions League final – and two players in particular – made it clear that Ten Hag must change one specific thing at United if the team is going to be successful.

Ederson, who has previously been taunted for his lack of ‘shot-stopping’ ability, produced several sublime saves for United’s rivals in the final. When it mattered. He commanded his box when pressure was applied and ultimately helped City maintain their ball-dominant play style on the day.

Similarly, at the other end of the pitch we saw Andre Onana, who formally worked under Ten Hag at Ajax, put on an absolute masterclass on how to play the game as a modern-day goalkeeper. The Cameroon international was an undeserved loser on the night but offered incredible passes to his teammates to break the first lines of City’s press consistently

Meanwhile, David de Gea looks set to extend his contract at Manchester United.

That is despite the Spaniard showing minimal ability to adapt to the way of playing that I described in the two goalkeepers above. Then when you take into consideration that his shot-stopping is no where near as good as it used to be; we have a problem.

It might not seem like a priority for United right now. Some might bring up the fact that United’s no.1 has just took home the Premier League Golden Glove. Do they really need another goalkeeper right now?

Yet, all you have to do is watch other teams at the highest level to see what United are missing. There are other positions they must strengthen but I do not think there’s one where the player lacks in almost every necessary attribute in their specific position.

The role of a goalkeeper has changed. They do not only keep shots out of the net but they are absolutely crucial in how teams attack and sustain possession. Unfortunately, the game has been constantly moving and it almost seems like it has passed David de Gea by.

Ten Hag has previously insisted that the goalkeeper is improving with the ball at his feet; whether or not that was the Dutchman protecting a player under scrutiny, we do not know. But all it takes is to look at the two goalkeepers who were playing in the most prestigious football match of the year to know that it is still no where near enough if United want to return to where they once was.