DE GEA IS DE GREATEST
Spaniard hailed as the ‘Messi of goalkeeping’
MANCHESTER UNITED were down to 10 men and camped in their box, clinging to what would be a second successive win since their humiliating 3-0 defeat by Tottenham at Old Trafford.
It was backs-against-the-wall time but these are the moments when the players who call themselves the world’s greatest must prove their credentials.
Not for the first time, David de Gea was the difference between three points and one point for United. With a dive to his left and two strong hands, he denied Watford their leveller in stoppage time.
Where would United be without the Spaniard they came so close to selling to Real Madrid in 2015?
As Rio Ferdinand pointed out on BT Sport: ‘David de Gea puts points on the board more than any other goalkeeper on the planet. He’s the best.’
It is hard to disagree. Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak are candidates, but who else shows De Gea’s reliability? As United’s supporters say, Dave saves.
Among the praise being poured on De Gea after this win, the most lavish came from his opposite number for Watford, Ben Foster.
‘He is the most natural goalie you will ever see,’ Foster said. ‘He is the Messi of goalkeeping.
‘He does it all the time. It’s almost like he is not even bothered, either! It would be so nice to pull those saves off, get up and it’s almost like he just wants to go home. He is brilliant.
‘A top goalie and, if any young goalie out there wants to learn how to be a goalkeeper, watch David De Gea. He is world class. Breathtaking.’
Team-mate Chris Smalling, the scorer of United’s second goal, added: ‘ What makes him one of the best keepers in the world is not having much to do, then standing up in the last minute.
‘It’s a crucial time. The best keepers do not switch off and we know that David is always there.’
Really, a great goalkeeper should be seen as the equivalent of a striker who scores 25 goals a season. They can be as vital to a win as the players at the other end of the pitch.
In the first half, Watford captain Troy Deeney had his chance to score but a single strong hand from De Gea denied him the opener at Vicarage Road. Another crucial stop.
United instead took the lead through Romelu Lukaku, who has now scored 20 goals in 39 games for the club. Only three players reached that milestone faster: Ruud van Nistelrooy (26 games), Robin van Persie (32) and Dwight Yorke (34).
Smalling then scored United’s second with a striker’s finish as he chested the ball, turned and volleyed into the back of the net beyond Foster.
In the aftermath of that strike, there were telling scenes on the United bench. As soon as Smalling scored, manager Jose Mourinho erupted in pure emotion, then searched for Kieran McKenna to give the first-team coach a hug.
With the help of McKenna, United have been working specifically on their setpieces and they scored two here. They weren’t the prettiest in pink but it got them the win.
‘We have a lot of height and we do not always threaten enough at set plays,’ Smalling said. ‘We caused them a few problems.’
United were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when Nemanja Matic received a second yellow card. There were no complaints from Mourinho, but asked afterwards whether his manager was angry, Matic said with a smile: ‘We will see on Monday!’
Mourinho will not worry too much because the overall picture is clear. Since United were thrashed by Tottenham at home, the reaction from his team has been significant.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have lost twice in succession while Mourinho’s have won twice, away at Burnley and now here at Watford.
The players will have read that their manager’s job was on the line following their defeat at the Theatre of Dreams. The Portuguese could not have asked for a better response.
As for Watford, they could not make it five wins out of five under Javi Gracia, who held up his Manager of the Month award to the crowd before kick-off.
The confidence in the home side was evident as they were encouraged by a buoyant crowd at Vicarage Road.
Unfortunately for Watford, they could not get the better of De Gea. Gracia was still able to smile afterwards, shrugging his shoulders and saying that if he had to lose, he would rather see his side go down with a fight.
‘We tried to keep our line,’ Gracia said. ‘If we lose, we have to do it like this — fighting until the end, trying to score until the end, competing until the end. This is our attitude.’
Up next for United is an away Champions League clash with Young Boys followed by Wolves in the Premier League.
As good as De Gea is, Mourinho would much rather his keeper is now allowed two games where he does not have to show his matchsaving qualities. WATFORD (4-3-3): Foster 7.5; Janmaat 6 (Femenia 72min, 5.5), Cathcart 5 (Success 88), Kabasele 6, Holebas 5 (Masina 84); Doucoure 6, Capoue 5, Hughes 5.5; Pereyra 5, Deeney 6, Gray 7. Subs not used: Gomes, Mariappa, Sema, Chalobah. Scorer: Gray 65. Booked: Holebas, Capoue. Manager: Javi Gracia 6. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): DE GEA 8; Valencia 6 (Bailly 90), Smalling 7, Lindelof 5, Young 7; Pogba 6.5, Fellaini 5.5, Matic 6; Lingard 5.5 (Martial 71, 5), Lukaku 7, Sanchez 4 (McTominay 84). Subs not used: Mata, Grant, Fred, Darmian. Scorers: Lukaku 35, Smalling 38. Booked: Valencia. Sent off: Matic 90. Manager: Jose Mourinho 7.5. Referee: Mike Dean 6. Attendance: 20,537.