WAT A RELIEF
De Gea’s last-gasp brilliance saves Jose and United from a potential banana skin
JOSE MOURINO and Javi Gracia were united in praise of David de Gea after his last-minute save proved a match-winner.
The two managers saluted the Spanish international following his superb stop at point-blank range from Christian Kabasele’s header.
The visitors were grimly hanging on to a 2-1 lead going into the dying seconds, with midfielder Nemanja Matic having been dismissed for a second yellow.
Watford midfielder Will Hughes floated over a cross from the right and Belgian star Kabasele headed goalwards from six yards.
Somehow de Gea palmed the ball clear, leaving Hornets’ chief Gracia scratching his head in disbelief – and Mourinho thanking his lucky stars.
Gracia called the stop “amazing” and Mourinho lauded his brilliant No.1, saying: “He had only one save to make – but it was a fantastic save.
“When you play for a top club, in some matches you don’t touch the ball, you are just somebody watching the game. Today his moment was his save in the last minute.”
The importance of it is hard to overstate. De Gea’s stop prevented Mourinho’s side from falling eight points adrift in the title race. As it is, the gap is reduced to six.
The Portuguese added: “This was very important. With this win we keep on the same points as Spurs and Arsenal.
“If we hadn’t won this match, the distance would have grown.
“Watford are a good team, they know how to create problems to the top teams. I told the players at half-time – I’m sorry we didn’t have a camera in the dressing-room because I warned them what would happen – that this could be a match either to win four-nil, five-nil, or we could be in real trouble.
“So, I’m frustrated. If we had played the second-half like we did the end of the first we would have had the result – and we didn’t need the last 10 minutes.
“But I’m very happy with the points, very happy with the spirit.”
Sergio Aguero (above) has given Manchester City a Champions League injury scare, as he limped off with a jarred ankle after making City’s third goal in their home defeat of Fulham. Pep Guardiola has admitted the club’s leading scorer is now a doubt for the clash with Lyon on Wednesday. Guardiola said: “He felt something in his ankle when he jumped. “He finished the first half good but was uncomfortable at the start of the second half and there was no point taking a risk at 3-0. Lyon? We will see how he is tomorrow when he wakes up.”
The City boss purred over the skills of namesakes Bernardo and David Silva.
He said Portugal star Bernardo would be at City for as long as he is manager, and saluted David’s contribution to the club – the Spaniard marked his 350th appearance in all competitions for City with the second goal.
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