Jose: De Gea is simply the best
SPANIARD PUTS ON INSPIRED DISPLAY
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho praised a “world best” display by goalkeeper David de Gea after his side’s 3-1 win away to Arsenal on Saturday.
But the win was far from routine even though early goals from Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard put United 2-0 up at the Emirates Stadium as soon as the 11th minute.
De Gea made several brilliant saves before Arsenal eventually pulled one back through Alexandre Lacazette four minutes after half-time.
But Lingard’s second goal in the 63rd minute eventually made the game safe for the visitors before United midfielder Paul Pogba was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Hector Bellerin.
As for Pogba’s dismissal, which will rule him out of the Manchester derby, Mourinho said Arsenal had been fortunate not to go a man down as well following a challenge by Laurent Koscielny on Romelu Lukaku.
There was no hiding former Chelsea manager Mourinho’s joy, however, at an impressive allround United display.
“I loved the way my team played and fought,” he said. “Arsenal played in some periods amazing attacking football – creating difficulties for us.
“But I have to say my players deserve all the great words. I don’t know so many in English but amazing, phenomenal, fantastic. They deserved three points.”
For Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has had an often fractious relationship with Mourinho, there was pride in the way his side recovered from a horror start but ultimately a sense of frustration at their failure to take anything out of the game.
“I think we didn’t start well at all at the back and we are guilty of that,” Wenger told the BBC.
“Despite being 2-0 down we should have come back – we had enough chances. We produced excellent quality, but were not decisive enough,” the veteran French boss added.
“It was a mystery yes (not scoring more goals), but David de Gea was Man-of-the-Match by a clear mile.” – AFP