Man Utd 1-0 West Ham (Rashford 38′)
OLD TRAFFORD — According to Spain boss Luis Enrique, David de Gea is not even in the top three Spanish goalkeepers in the Premier League.
Widespread reports in Spain claim De Gea will not make Luis Enrique’s provisional 55-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Qatar. That means there are five goalkeepers ahead of him in the pecking order: Brighton’s Robert Sanchez, Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga and Brentford stopper David Raya among them.
It is a sign of how the modern game has somewhat passed De Gea by. While the Spaniard has been busy bailing out a side who have been lurching from one disaster to the next over the past decade, the requirements for a modern goalkeeper have changed, with the distribution of the man between the sticks as important a requirement as shot-stopping.
While Manchester City’s Ederson and Liverpool keeper Alisson can register assists with long-range passes that seem to defy the laws of physics, De Gea’s passing has remained very much akin to keepers of yesteryear. Such is De Gea’s inferiority in the distribution department that United are considering a move for one of those who has usurped him from the Spanish ranks – Raya.
What is in no doubt, however, is that there remain few better in world football at the now old-fashioned art of shot-stopping. Especially so after United’s victory over West Ham in the Manchester drizzle was down to one man alone. Again.
It would have been somewhat disappointing for the Old Trafford faithful, so impressed by a scintillating United display in their last league match against Tottenham, that their side struggled to get going against David Moyes’ Hammers.
Half chances were all the hosts could muster early on, before the real touch of class on the pitch – Christian Eriksen – clipped a sumptuous cross onto the head of Marcus Rashford to score what proved to be the winner.
The second half, however, was backs against the wall for United, with some of the last-ditch defending from Lisandro Martinez and the ever-improving Diogo Dalot in particular helping frustrate the visitors time and again.
When they did sneak past Martinez’s clutches, however, a familiar sight saved the day for United. De Gea’s three stunning saves to deny Kurt Zouma, Michail Antonio, and Declan Rice right at the death were sensational in their own way.
"Sometimes people think that goalies never get tired…"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 30, 2022
David De Gea was crucial in Manchester United getting the win todaypic.twitter.com/zICoC8k0DN
De Gea’s acrobatic effort to keep out Zouma’s flicked header was a contender for save of the season, clawing the ball out when it appeared to be already past him, while Rice had already wheeled away, thinking his arrowing effort was just reward his team’s second-half dominance, before United’s unbreachable star of the show flung up his right arm to make one last game-defining stop.
Upon the final whistle, his team-mates knew who to run to thank. The beating of the chest to the crowd showed the fire still burns strong inside a Spaniard, even if his country has moved on.
“Everyone has their own opinion and philosophy,” United boss Erik ten Hag said of De Gea’s potential Spain snub. “For me, first for a goalkeeper you have to protect the goal and not concede goals and at that he is magnificent.
“With the feet he has the capabilities as well. He is progressing from game to game in that part, it is also to do with the one in front, how you give him the options to make passes.
“It is clear already and I have already emphasised it several times, I am really happy with David. He is a great goalkeeper. He is only 31. He is fit. He can progress even more. He was already impressive for Man Utd and I think he will do that in the future as well.”
Regardless of his manager’s backing, the distribution remained as tentative as ever from De Gea, with simple short passes and clearances all that remains in his locker. Heroics of the shot-saving variety, however, more than made up for it, as they have for the best part of 11 years in England.
Given he is one of the best paid goalkeepers in world football, United are right to be thinking twice about offering De Gea an extension, even at a reduced salary, especially with younger, more able-footed options on the table.
But if his manager can overlook his passing shortfalls, content with keeping teams at bay the old fashioned way, then the club’s hand may well be forced. It seems De Gea and Manchester United are not done yet.
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