GLOVE, ACTUALLY

‘De Gea or Henderson to be No.1 for the Reds? No contest.. The Blades keeper has potential but I have seen plenty of people come to Old Trafford with big reputations and then fail to deliver.. the pressure is so different’

DEAN HENDERSON’S rave reviews have led to suggestions he is set to challenge David De Gea as Manchester United’s No.1 goalkeeper.

But United legend Peter Schmeichel (below) reckons Henderson is nowhere near ready to knock 29-yearold Spaniard De Gea off his perch. Henderson, 23, has thrived on loan at Sheffield United, while several highprofile mistakes by De Gea have seen his decade-long status as the Reds’ undisputed first choice called into question. Henderson has kept 10 clean sheets this season – compared to De Gea’s eight – and conceded five fewer goals in the Premier League. But he is still not ready for United, according to all-time goalkeeping great Schmeichel, who won five league titles and the Champions League during eight trophy-laden years at the Theatre of Dreams.

He said: “Would anyone seriously consider not having David De Gea in goal and put Dean Henderson in now?

“There’s no doubt about Henderson’s potential.

“But he’s played one season in the Premier League at a club who have had an unbelievable run.

“They have managed to combine an old-school way of thinking into a new-school way of thinking, staying true to Sheffield United and what kind of club it is.

“But Henderson will need to show another season, like he’s just come through, then another, and another, in order to convince everyone that he is the right guy. There’s a really big difference between being the No.1 at Bramall Lane and being the No.1 at Old Trafford – a really big difference.

“Even just being a player at those two clubs.

“I have seen a lot of guys come into Old Trafford with great reputations, goalscorers, and they haven’t been able to do what they promised to do with performances and talent.

“That’s simply because the pressures at Old Trafford are different, just different, you know.

“Just as an example, if Henderson makes a mistake – and I can only remember one he made against Liverpool – it’s, ‘Oh yeah, but he’s young and talented and blah, blah, blah’, because he plays for Sheffield United.

“If he makes that mistake at Old Trafford for Manchester United then it’s headlines and it’s all week until he plays the next game, where they question his

Henderson has only played one season in the Prem.. he has to do it year on year

There’s a difference playing for Sheffield United and playing for a really big club

ability to be the No.1. That’s what you have to deal with.

“That’s what the difference is between playing for clubs like United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, and then playing for the other clubs.

“The pressures, the outside pressures, are so different. If you make a mistake playing for Sheffield United, well, fine, it’s what happens – you’re not expected to win every game.

“But you are when you’re playing for the bigger clubs.

“So let’s see how he develops and keep an eye on him. But it’s far too early.

“So the question: De Gea or Henderson? There’s really only one answer to that.”

Blades boss Chris Wilder publicly criticised Henderson after he conceded a soft late shot from Georginio Wijnaldum, leading to a 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool in September.

Schmeichel argues Wilder may ultimately have done Henderson a big favour by publicly admonishing him, suggesting it will help the young England hopeful become mentally tougher.

“Chris Wilder is a certain kind of manager,” said Schmeichel, 56, speaking on an Instagram live chat from his home in Denmark, where he has been on lockdown for the past four weeks.

“I like him a lot, I like his way of approaching football. It’s not too scientific and, to be fair, he’s combined old school with new school.

“Some managers in the olden days, they actually criticised their players, and I think it’s just part of it.

“At the end of the day, for someone like Henderson to be criticised publicly, it’s not bad training if he wants to be the No.1 at Old Trafford.”

De Gea (left) has the keeper’s jersey at United for now, but Henderson (right) wants it MANCHESTER UNITED do not need a big-name manager – because they already have one in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. United great Peter Schmeichel (with Solskjaer, right) says the Norwegian has done everything required since taking over from Jose Mourinho – and now deserves time to continue his overhaul of the squad. When the season was suspended, United were on an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions and up to fifth spot in the Premier League – on the brink of a Champions League place. Mauricio Pochettino (above) and Max Allegri have been linked with the job at Old Trafford. But Schmeichel insists the Reds already have a big enough boss in Solskajer. He said: “I think Ole has been absolutely fantastic. “We have a big-name manager. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is one of the biggest names in Manchester United’s history, so we don’t need anybody else. He’s done an amazing job.”