OLE’S No1 PROBLEM
Solskjaer dilemma after De Gea gives vital points away
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer is facing one of his biggest tests as Manchester United boss over blunder-prone goalkeeper David De Gea.
De Gea has been United’s No1 for the past decade but has become a liability, as he showed by gifting Everton a route back into the game on Saturday night and, ultimately, giving away two vital points in the title race.
His mistake handed Everton their first goal and, while he was not at fault for their second, his lack of courage and conviction yielded Dominic CalvertLewin’s last-gasp equaliser.
On the eve of the game Solskjaer, right, had said nobody was guaranteed a place in his side “like a season ticket card”. Now that statement will be put to the test.
Having started United’s past two FA Cup ties, Dean Henderson was always likely to be between the posts for tomorrow’s visit of West Ham to Old Trafford for the fifth round. But the time has come for Henderson to be handed a run in the side.
Whether Solskjaer has the courage to drop De Gea remains to be seen. After the draw with Everton, the manager said: “Every player has to earn the right to his place. We’re a squad with competition and that applies to absolutely every single one in the team.”
Certainly, Sir Alex Ferguson, Solskjaer’s former boss, would have shown his ruthless streak by now and jettisoned De Gea.
The Spaniard, 30, remains capable of some breathtaking saves but too often this season and last his frequent lapses of judgment have cost United.
Former United skipper Gary Neville did not hold back in his criticism of De Gea, citing his lack of courage and decisiveness in key moments.
“De Gea, there, at the end, he doesn’t even come in line with the ball,” Neville said.“You want the goalkeeper to come there and eat the striker. You want your goalkeeper to come out there and absolutely take him out.”
Solskjaer’s defence was culpable too, their naivety at set-pieces a recurring theme and the centre-back pairing of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof showing vulnerability.
United led 2-0 at the break, with excellent goals from Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes but Everton drew level through Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez. Scott McTominay restored United’s lead before Calvert-Lewin’s late strike.
MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): De Gea 4; Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 6, Maguire 5, Shaw 7; McTominay 7, Pogba 6 (Fred 39, 5); Greenwood 8 (Tuanzebe 90), Fernandes 8, Rashford 7; Cavani 7. Goals: Cavani 24, Fernandes 45, McTominay 70.
EVERTON (4-3-3): Olsen 5; Holgate 6, Godfrey 6, Keane 5, Digne 5; Doucoure 7 (King 81), Davies 7 (Iwobi 75), Gomes 6; Rodriguez 7 (Sigurdsson 69, 6), Calvert-Lewin 7, Richarlison 6. Goals: Doucoure 49,, Rodríguez 52, Calvert-Lewin 90.