David De Gea Adds Proven Quality to Manchester United's Champions League Squad

The final stages of the transfer window threw up two big surprises for Manchester United that will have an impact on their Champions League squad for the season, and of the two, it is holding on to David De Gea that should have the bigger impact.

The arrival of Anthony Martial will hopefully bolster United's attacking capacities. The youngster has Champions League experience and was part of the Monaco squad that exceeded expectations last time out. He made four starts and three substitute appearances, providing one assist.

However, given how young he is, and given that he scored just nine goals last season in Ligue Un, it seems unlikely he will make a definitive difference to United's European fortunes.

De Gea, though, belongs in a very different category. The term "world class" gets used a lot in football. It is an amorphous and difficult-to-pin-down phrase. Essentially, though, it is mostly used as shorthand for "among the very best." In that sense, De Gea is most assuredly world class.

Indeed, he is probably the only player who would get into a World XI squad from the current United ensemble. Bastian Schweinsteiger has proven quality at that level but is entering the latter stages of his career.

Perhaps in a season or two, the full-backs would be in with a shout, and perhaps a few seasons further down the line, Martial or Memphis Depay will maximise his potential and be a factor in it.

For now, though, in the absence of any Galactico-level signing and with the departure of Angel Di Maria, De Gea is perhaps the only name in United's squad likely to get envious looks from the clubs aspiring to win the Champions League.

He has, of course, never been part of a United side that has competed for the title. United's last appearance in the final marked the final game of Edwin van der Sar's career. During the De Gea era, United have not progressed beyond the quarter-final.

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That has not been down to De Gea. Indeed, the Spanish stopper pulled off one of his most remarkable saves in a Champions League game—the martial arts-esque save with his feet against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu.

De Gea's presence makes United a tougher opponent. It is true they are unlikely to be among the favourites to lift the trophy. However, their defensive organisation this season has been much improved over last time around.

When Louis van Gaal suggested in an interview with BT Sport after the win over Club Brugge that teams like Barcelona would want to avoid United, he may have been speaking in a slightly tongue-in-cheek manner. However, United's new-found organisation should make them genuinely difficult to beat.

There were a couple of glitches in that organisation against Swansea City on Sunday, and the Swans were able to take full advantage. That was partly down to the presence of Sergio Romero, who probably could have done better for Swansea's first and flat-out should have saved the second.

De Gea almost certainly would have.

Last season, De Gea's heroics saved United plenty of points. Playing behind a more competent, better-organised defence, he would have less to do, but that does not mean he will not make saves that allow United to win games.

This will become even more important should United progress beyond the group stages and face some of Europe's real big guns. Should the Red Devils face Real Madrid, having De Gea on their side, rather than up against them, will be a huge asset. Better sides will find more ways to exploit United's defence.

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When they do, they will face a much tougher barrier with De Gea in goal.

The reasons for him staying at United may have been farcical, but his potential impact should be taken very seriously indeed.