Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed the impact of David de Gea on the team after some very good performances in recent games.
David de Gea signed a new long term deal with Manchester United, which made him one of the highest-paid players at the club. Many considered the new contract a bad mistake from the club, as De Gea started showing a concerning dip in form.
Last season he was replaced for several games by keeper Dean Henderson, and many expected de Gea to not return to the starting lineup. Subsequently, the keeper played second fiddle during the Euros to Unai Simon in the Spanish national side. Not much was expected from the shot-stopper heading into the new season.
However, de Gea has started well for Manchester United this season and made himself an integral part of the squad. Last weekend, his crucial, last-minute penalty save from a Mark Noble shot earned Manchester United all three points.
His importance is growing in the side again, and his form will be crucial as the season progresses. De Gea has not been this good since probably the 2017/18 season. It’s a welcome return to form from the keeper, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be pleased, and he was.
Solskjaer: “I’m really happy with David de Gea. He’s working so well. He did call me in the summer to end his summer holiday earlier and come back and start his pre-season before, he wanted to be ready – the best possible version of himself”. ? #MUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 24, 2021
Solskjaer praised the keeper’s influence on the side and suggested he was very happy with his performances. The manager also stated how de Gea understood his problems and decided to solve them rather than leave them aside.
Solskjaer said, “I’m really happy with David de Gea. He’s working so well. He did call me in the summer to end his summer holiday earlier and come back and start his pre-season before; he wanted to be ready – the best possible version of himself”.
The decision from the Spanish keeper to cut short his holiday and return early to pre-season training has certainly benefitted Manchester United and will help them challenge for honours this season. While he has impressed so far, de Gea has still only managed to keep just one clean sheet from six games in all competitions, something that he will be desperate to improve in the games to come.
