DAVID DE GEA practically handed Chelsea victory on Sunday with another two bloopers in Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final loss.
And it isn’t the first time the Spanish keeper has been at fault, with many fans now questioning whether he should stay first choice.
David De Gea let Mason Mount’s long-range effort slide underneath him
Many United fans are now calling for Dean Henderson to be the new No1
Dean Henderson has been playing out of his skin on loan at Sheffield United, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already hinting he is a future No1.
But after De Gea’s latest howlers, the future could well be now with Henderson deployed between the sticks for next season.
Here, SunSport checks out seven big-time errors that raise serious doubts over De Gea’s longevity at United.
Contents
July 2020, Vs Chelsea, FA Cup, X2
Deep in first-half stoppage time – following a long break because of Eric Bailly’s head injury – De Gea was caught unawares by Olivier Giroud.
The French striker turned in a Cesar Azpilicueta cross to the near post that wiggled right through the goalkeeper.
Then, just a minute after the second half started, De Gea produced an even worse howler when he failed to stop Mason Mount’s shot.
Chelsea took the lead when Olivier Giroud completely wrong-footed the under-fire United keeper
Mount – scoring his first goal in 26 games – intercepted a shocking Brandon Williams pass before striking from outside the box.
Although it was reasonably well hit along the ground, it was a save one would expect a Sunday league goalkeeper to make.
BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Ashley Cole even suggested De Gea could have prevented Harry Maguire’s own-goal – but that might be throwing too much blame.
Some pundits even believe De Gea should have done better with Harry Maguire’s goal
June 2020, Vs Tottenham, Premier League
In the first game back from lockdown, De Gea allowed Steven Bergwijn’s near post shot to give Spurs a 27th-minute lead in North London.
Addressing his blunder, Solskjaer gave the Spaniard his full backing by calling him the “best goalkeeper in the world”.
He said: “He makes great saves, he wins games for us and I still think he’s the best goalkeeper in the world.”
But United legend Roy Keane was fuming with the shot-stopper, saying he was “sick to death of this goalkeeper” and he would be “swinging punches at him”.
Steven Bergwijn’s effort for Spurs flew straight through De Gea
March 2020, Vs Everton, Premier League
Just before lockdown came into force, De Gea dawdled on the ball and his delayed clearance hit Everton’s Dominc Calvert-Lewin’s outstretched leg and went in.
Again, his boss protected him in the media, saying: “It’s something that happens in football once in a while if you take too long on the ball”
De Gea booted the ball at Calvert-Lewin and it flew into the goal
December 2019, Vs Watford, Premier League
Manchester United slumped to a 2-0 loss against Watford earlier this season, with De Gea strongly at fault.
During the defeat at the Hornets, the Spaniard spooned one in that was easier to juggle on his head.
After the game, Solskjaer said: “It was a mistake, it happens in football and it is what we train for every day to make sure they don’t happen again.
“David has been very good lately, it is just one of those things that happen.”
De Gea’s butter fingers allowed Ismaila Sarr to score for Watford
March 2019, Vs Arsenal, Premier League
Last year, Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka scored with a low shot that left De Gea wrong-footed.
Yet again, Solskjaer leapt to the defence of his stopper, saying: “He’s disappointed every time he concedes a goal because he is a top keeper.
“The ball moves so strange it looks like it goes to his left and changes direction.”
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskajer blamed the ‘ball moving’ after Granit Xhaka netted for Arsenal
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June 2018, Vs Portugal, World Cup
On the biggest scene, the World Cup, De Gea allowed a Cristiano Ronaldo shot to bounce off his left hand and go in.
The gaffe ensured the points were shared, with Spain drawing 3-3 against rivals Portugal.
Then-Spain boss Fernando Hierro was this time left to leap to his defence, saying: “We don’t have any doubts about De Gea and he doesn’t have doubts about himself.”
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By: John Hutchinson
Title: The 7 times De Gea was let off for horror blunders proving Man Utd should drop him amid Dean Henderson competition
Sourced From: www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/12172090/manchester-united-david-de-gea-chelsea-fa-cup-bloopers/
Published Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 11:45:41 +0000
