SPANISH ONION
SLIPPED GEA: KEEPER’S RECENT GAFFES
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second of three goals in this World Cup match was a speculative shot that sailed straight through De Gea’s gloves. Man United
De Gea allowed a corner to slip right through his hands, leaving the ball free for Shkodran Mustafi to give Arsenal a 26th-minute lead.
Misjudged a 25-yard shot from Granit Xhaka, despite seeing it coming all the way. Watford 2-0 Man United, Dec 22, 2019
De Gea allowed a mistimed close-range effort midfield and up front Olivier Giroud bullied the Reds’ defence to set up a repeat of the 2017 FA Cup Final.
Bookies had the odds in favour of an all-Manchester final before this weekend, but both semi-finals provided an upset.
Lampard (right) should begin to get the credit he deserves after a remarkable first season in Premier League management.
This was Chelsea at their best. They were superior from the start. United’s gamble of resting players and switching to a back three did not work, with Lampard from Ismaila Sarr to slip through his fingers.
Made a mess of a back-pass, handing Everton the opening goal when his clearance cannoned into Dominic Calvert-Lewin then into the net.
De Gea seemed rusty in first game for United after lockdown, as Steven Bergwijn fired in a shot the keeper seemed to parry into own net.
Somehow, Mason Mount’s low, long-range shot slipped through De Gea’s fingers as he tried to dive by the post. outsmarting and outwitting Solskjaer.
A largely unforgettable first half changed just before the break when Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly were involved in a sickening clash of heads.
After lengthy treatment Maguire played on but, alarmingly, Bailly collapsed as he left the pitch and, with medical staff swarming around him, was taken away on a stretcher.
On came Anthony Martial for Bailly. United switched to a back four and maybe lost concentration after the incident when, 11 minutes into injury-time, Chelsea deservedly went ahead.
Cesar Azpilicueta (left, with team-mates Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kurt Zouma) put over a low cross and Giroud drifted across Victor Lindelof to steer the ball towards goal. It should have been a straightforward save, but De Gea let it go through him.
Worse was to come for him. A minute after the restart, Brandon Williams’ sloppy square pass let in Mason Mount, who let fly from 25 yards and the ball squirmed under De Gea. Mount probably would not
■ Chelsea have reached their 14th FA Cup final. Only Arsenal (21) and Manchester United (20) have made the final on more occasions.
■ Manchester United have been eliminated from the FA Cup by Chelsea for a sixth time. Only Arsenal (7) have knocked the Red Devils out on more occasions.
■ This was Chelsea’s first win over United since the 2018 FA Cup Final. The Blues were winless in six matches in all competitions against them before today (D2 L4).
■ Chelsea are the first side to beat United since Burnley in the Premier League back in January.
■ Since his debut in the FA Cup in 2013, Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud has scored 16 goals in the competition (13 for Arsenal & 3 for Chelsea). Only Sergio Aguero (19) has netted more in this period.
■ Mason Mount is the first Englishman to score for Chelsea at Wembley since John Terry in the 2015 League Cup final.
■ No player has scored more goals in all competitions for Frank Lampard in his managerial career than Mason Mount (18 – level with Harry Wilson).
■ Since his Manchester United debut in February, no Premier League player has been involved in more goals across all competitions than Bruno Fernandes (17).
■ Manchester United have both taken (19) and scored (15) more penalties than any other Prem side this season in all competitions. have tried his luck but for De Gea now being seen as a weak link.
United brought on Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood, but there was no way back. On 74 minutes Marcos Alonso sent over a low cross and Maguire diverted the ball into his own net.
There was a little consolation when Bruno Fernandes scored a late penalty after Callum Hudson-Odoi tripped Martial. It was the first time Fernandes had lost in a United shirt and his team’s first defeat in 19 games.
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“Everyone has to perform when they play, to stake a claim to be in the team. David knows he should have saved the second goal but that is done now and we have got to move on and look to Wednesday against West Ham. It’s hard for a keeper to make amends. David made a few good saves, but he knows he should have saved the second one.”
Former United defender Phil Neville believes De Gea has “lost all his confidence”, adding: “He’s unrecognisable from the goalkeeper that won player of the year four years out of five. He’s making mistakes. A confident, assured, on-form David de Gea saves all three today.
“If I was Ole, then I would be worried because of his performance levels. They’ve dipped and his inconsistency is costing United games.”
Lampard hailed his Chelsea players for their comprehensive victory. “I can’t ask for any more than that. I’m very proud of that performance,” he said. “The players deserve so much credit. I’m so proud of them and to be in the final.”