Solskjaer praises De Gea after stellar showing
LONDON: David de Gea’s wonder show at Tottenham on Sunday led Manchester United’s interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to claim the Spaniard might be the club’s best keeper ever.
De Gea made 11 saves in the second half at Wembley as United clung on to Marcus Rashford’s first-half strike to win 1-0 — Solskjaer’s sixth win in six matches since taking over following Jose Mourinho’s sacking.
At times it appeared to be De Gea versus Tottenham as he made incredible stops to deny Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld — many with his legs. No other Premier League keeper has made as many saves in 90 minutes as De Gea managed in 45 at Wembley and Solskjaer, who played in United teams with Danish great Peter Schmeichel and Dutchman Edwin van der Saar between the posts, said the 28-year-old could surpass both.
“We’ve had some great keepers at this club and I think he’s challenging both Edwin and Peter for the number one spot historically,” Solskjaer said. “We had a good back four and David in behind them was unbelievable. You are allowed to have a good goalkeeper.
“I’ve played with a few fantastic goalkeepers. We have a tradition of having them and he has grown and grown. He deserves that man of the match today.”
It was not De Gea’s busiest day, though, since he arrived at United from Atletico Madrid in 2011. In 2017 he pulled off 14 stops in a league match at Arsenal.
“I was feeling very well with the first two saves, it was a great game,” De Gea said. “I don’t even remember some of the saves so I can’t pick a best.”
POGBA ENJOYING ATTACKING ROLE
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba believes returning to an attacking role with freedom to express himself has helped him rediscover his enjoyment for the game, the Frenchman has said. The World Cup winner has looked a different player under Solskjaer following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
“I’m enjoying playing my football now,” Pogba told Sky Sports. “I like to be more attacking. I had to defend too much before and that is not my best attribute.”
Pogba has also scored four goals since Solskjaer took over and said he was happy to follow the Norwegian’s advice to play as a box-to-box midfielder with Nemanja Matic providing defensive cover behind him.
“This is my position,” Pogba added. “The manager tells me to get into the box and score. The best example is Frank Lampard. I know Matic is there. I know we can press high and, when we get the ball, I can shoot.”
KANE INJURY COULD BE AN ISSUE: POCHETTINO
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says he fears a ‘massive problem‘ after Harry Kane limped off the Wembley pitch with an apparent ankle problem.
Kane was hurt after clashing with United defender Phil Jones in the closing seconds of the match. Pochettino said he would fret over Kane’s fitness, with the 25-year-old set to undergo tests in the next few days while he is set to lose Son Heung-min to the Asian Cup.
“Of course if Harry Kane suffers an injury it would be a massive problem for us. That is my worry, that is our worry,” Pochettino told Sky Sports.