Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

CHELSEA v QARABAG MAN UTD v BASEL AWESOME

De Gea: United are so excited to be back in Europe after the TORTURE of watching it on TV last season

- BY DAVID MCDONNELL

know is really difficult, but I think the team we have now is really

DAVID DE GEA has admitted

good.

it was torture for Manchester

“There are strong teams in

United’s players watching the

England and really strong teams in

Champions League from the

Spain.

outside.

“It’s true that in England we United make never have a break, and that their return to December and January are tough the tournament moments for English teams. “We have many games and it’s tonight difficult to be ready for the against FC Champions League games. But the Basel, 644 level is more or less the same. days after “Spanish teams are in a good their last moment but Manchester United involvemen­t in are one of the best teams in the European football’s world.” elite club competitio­n. The keeper was forced to watch The Reds won the Europa United’s triumphant Europa League last season to seal their League run from the bench last return to the Champions League, season, as Mourinho placed his having had to sit it out twice faith in No.2 Sergio Romero. in the last three But Mourinho has confirmed De years. Gea will start tonight and remain And De his first choice for the Champions Gea revealed League campaign, on the back of how Jose his fine start to the season. Mourinho’s De Gea made an outstandin­g save from Jese Rodriguez in players United’s 2-2 draw at Stoke on found it Saturday and revealed he wants to tough be seen as the world’s best keeper. watching it on TV last term, as “I always want to be the best,” they prepared for Thursday nights said De Gea. “I try hard to improve in the Europa League. every day in training, so I work “It was hard to watch those really hard to be the best keeper in games on TV,” admitted De Gea. the world.

“For a club like Manchester “I don’t know who the best is at Unitred not to be in those games the moment, but this is what I was hard. want – to be the best.

“But now we’re back and we’re “I don’t know if it (the save from motivated to win Champions Jese) was the best I’ve ever made. League games and to bring the I’ve made great saves all my career, Champions League back to but it was a good one.”

Old Trafford for the fans. Phil Jones and Eric Bailly, “To do that we need to play United’s first-choice central our best football. It’s good to be defensive pairing, are suspended, back, especially at Old Trafford. meaning Chris Smalling and Victor “It’s almost two years Lindelof will play in front of without a Champions League De Gea. game at home. Neither defender has played for “We have a high level of United since the 2-1 Super Cup motivation and we want to defeat to Real Madrid on August 8, show that on the pitch. but De Gea has confidence in both. “It’s another step for us to “I feel really good about all of my play at the highest level, in the defenders,” he added.

Champions League, with the “If someone cannot play or it’s best teams in Europe. the decision of the manager, I feel “To win this tournament we good with anyone.”

 ??  ?? WE CAN BE HUGE HITDe Gea is thrilled to be back at the top table and ready to make a charge for the elite cup
WE CAN BE HUGE HITDe Gea is thrilled to be back at the top table and ready to make a charge for the elite cup

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