Manchester United's David De Gea believes he is a far superior goalkeeper than he was last year.
De Gea became the first goalkeeper to win the Sir Matt Busby trophy as United's Player of the Year last season but feels he has improved in every aspect of his game since then.
He is the favourite to retain his crown at Old Trafford and has been shortlisted for both the PFA Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year awards and has been praised for some spectacular saves.
"It's true that last season was good for me from a personal point of view but I think things are going quite a bit better this time around," De Gea told MUTV.
"I think I'm competing better, performing well and I think my decision-making is a lot better this season. I'm happy and trying to keep going in the same way and keep improving."
United have won their last six league games as Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Daley Blind have excelled as a unit in front of De Gea and the former Atletico Madrid player praised his back four.
"I think a team is built on sound defence and not conceding many goals," he added. "That's what we are managing to do at the moment. We're defending better and bringing the ball out from the back better too and that increases confidence throughout the team and helps us to score more goals."
However, United have suffered injury setbacks with Jones and Blind, as well as Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick, ruled out of Saturday's trip to Chelsea.
But De Gea is targeting another win. He added: "It will be a tough game but we will be eager to try and pick up all three points."