NO FINAL GUARANTEES FOR DE GEA
DAVID DE GEA will not get any guarantees from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he will keep his place for the Europa League Final.
The £350,000-a-week Spanish keeper produced a man-of-the-match display as Manchester United booked their trip to face Villarreal in Gdansk on May 26 despite losing their semi-final second leg against Roma.
De Gea (right) has been replaced by Dean Henderson as United’s No.1 and is set to be sold in the summer.
But Solskjaer will not allow sentiment for the departing star to cloud his judgement.
Asked whether De Gea will play against the La Liga club, he said: “I’ve got to make difficult decisions before the final – but I feel I’ve got to make very difficult decisions every time I pick a team.
“We’re Man United and we should have competition for every single spot in the team. I’ve said it many times that I’m the luckiest manager in the world with these two keepers.”
United’s trip to Poland falls on the 22nd anniversary of Solskjaer’s winning Nou Camp strike against Bayern Munich to clinch the Champions League and the Treble.
It will also be exactly 112 years since the birth of legendary United boss Sir
Matt Busby.
Solskjaer added: “It’s a very, very good date for us. Of course, from 1999, and I remember it is Sir Matt’s birthday as well. So it’s a special day, and even though I’m not superstitious I hope it’s a good omen.
“We’ve had a long spell with no trophies, no finals, and now we’ve got a chance and I feel that the team is ready for it.”
Solskjaer hopes that landing a trophy will help convince Edinson Cavani to stay at the club another year instead of taking up an offer from Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
The Uruguayan arrived from Paris Saint-Germain on a free last summer, and the United boss hailed the impact the 34-year-old has had.
Solskjaer said: “Edinson lives his life absolutely like a top professional, and I’m so pleased to have him here. Even with his little English, his preparation and focus is something everyone understands.
“It’s great for my young team. I look at him and think, ‘Wow, at that age I had to retire because of my knees.’
“I keep telling him to play at the highest level for as long as he can, because suddenly it is taken away from you.
“Hopefully we can see him here again next year.”