Why Manchester United Are Standing By David De Gea

On Friday night Manchester United were only 27 minutes in to resuming their fractured season when David De Gea’s position became an issue once again.

The Tottenham midfielder Steven Bergwijn had surged through the United defence before striking a shot straight at De Gea.

It was a powerfully hit shot, which should have drawn a regulation save, but instead bounced off De Gea’s chest and in to the roof of the net.

There was no respite, no grace period, the Spaniard’s propensity to make costly mistakes this season was immediately seized upon.

In the Sky Sports studio the watching former United captain Roy Keane was typically unsparing in his condemnation.

“It’s a massive defensive error…I’m sick to death of this goalkeeper,” Keane complained. “I would be fighting him at half-time, I would be swinging punches at that guy. I am flabbergasted.”

“Maguire and De Gea, I wouldn’t even let them on the bus after the match. Get a taxi back to Manchester…De Gea is the most overrated goalkeeper I’ve seen in a long, long time.”

And on social media the criticism rained down on De Gea’s head, with a poll finding that 53% of United fans believed he should be dropped in favour of Dean Henderson, who is currently on loan at Sheffield United.

But within United’s coaching dug-out there was a more measured and calm response on the evening and in the days since: De Gea is going nowhere.

While United have been concerned at some of the mistakes he has made over the last year, nothing has changed, and he retains the full support of his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The club want it be known that they are standing by De Gea, who signed a new four-year £375,000-a week contract last September, and he remains the club’s number one goalkeeper.

“David is the best goalkeeper in the world, he’s conceded two goals in the last seven he’s played for us,” Solskjaer said in a spirited defence of him on Tuesday.

“There are [games against Manchester] City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton, two goals in seven games, we’ve gone on a run and [conceded just] two goals.”

“The Everton one is a freak one, this one he can’t save it, he makes great saves, wins games for us and he’s still the best goalkeeper the world.”

“He’s been at United nine years now, next year is his 10th season. He’s had some fantastic seasons…He’s made match-winning saves, he saved a point for us against Tottenham with the save, mentally he’s a very strong keeper.”

The pressure on De Gea has mounted this season with the assumption United have a ready-made replacement already on their books in Dean Henderson.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper has excelled during his two seasons at Bramall Lane, impressing in the Championship last season before comfortably making the step up to the Premier League.

So far this season he has the joint most clean sheets in the top flight as Sheffield United have defied expectations and currently find themselves competing for a place in next season’s Champions League.

United are pleased to see Henderson’s emergence and are aware they have an impending problem to keep him happy when he returns to Old Trafford.

But showing potential for Sheffield United over two years cannot be compared to playing nearly 500 games for United and Atletico Madrid, winning 41 Spanish caps and being recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world.

Henderson has yet to be tested in a United shirt, which represents a very different challenge to the one he currently faces. “It’s a different job,” Solskjaer said. “He’s got different roles [at Sheffield United].”

So for the moment De Gea’s position is not under any real threat for next season.

At still only 29-years-old United believe the Spaniard is nowhere near his peak and his best years remain ahead of him.

There is no reason why De Gea could not hold on to the United number one shirt for another ten years.

Peter Schmeichel won the Champions League at the age of 35, while Edwin van der Sar was five years older when he played his last game for United in the 2011 Champions League final.

While Solskjaer is committed to promoting youth from within the club, goalkeeper is such an important position he is unlikely to take a risk with it any time soon.

While De Gea continues to pull off enough impressive saves and keep enough clean sheets Solskjaer plans to stick with him for now.