De Gea back training with United again
DAVID DE GEA trained with Manchester United’s first team squad yesterday despite being left out of Friday’s 1-0 win at Aston Villa.
The Spanish goalkeeper arrived at 10.30am with other players who had not featured in the game and was joined by the rest of the squad an hour later.
The 24-year-old worked out with fellow keepers Anders Lindegaard, Sam Johnstone and Sergio Romero before they were rotated in a series of practice games prior to lunch and then they left for home.
In a week of claim and counter claim, manager Louis van Gaal said De Gea did not want to play on Friday while negotiations were taking place over his possible move to Real Madrid. The goalkeeper’s camp responded by saying he had been forced to train with the club’s second string.
De Gea’s representatives also maintained that he would never refuse to play out of respect for the club, his team-mates and the fans, yet goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek and Van Gaal (right), claim he is not in the right frame of mind to play while his future remains unresolved. De Gea has always maintained he will act professionally. He accepts he could yet see out the season at Old Trafford as Madrid refuse to match United’s valuation of about £33million and appears upbeat among his team-mates.
But he is frustrated by his lack of action with big games looming. Indeed, he looks likely to miss United’s Champions League qualifier against Brugge on Tuesday.
Instead, Argentine Romero will play as he looks for a third consecutive clean sheet.
‘He’s been terrific,’ said defender Chris Smalling. ‘He’s come straight in and made an impact. It’s not easy because he was probably the one player who didn’t get a full preseason with us.
‘His English isn’t fluent so it can be difficult for him. But he’s shown that nothing phases him.’
For Smalling and his team-mates, the thought of failing to beat Brugge to reach the Champions League group stages is unthinkable following the disappointment of missing out on European football last season.
‘I took it for granted when I signed for United in 2010 that they would always be in the Champions League. Last year was a massive void and watching it was a killer,’ said the ever-improving defender.
‘We have to make sure we do the job. It’s not in our heads not qualifying and we shouldn’t be thinking that negatively either. ‘The tempo in the Champions League can be slower than the Premier League where everything is to and fro. Shape is more important and our manager is strong on tactical awareness and staying alert. On top of that, maybe we can insert some intensity they won’t be used to in the Belgian League.’ Vastly-experienced Bastian Schweinsteiger won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2013 and lifted the World Cup with Germany the following year.
He knows United’s opening two league performances in 1-0 wins against Spurs and Aston Villa were unconvincing but stressed that United are building a solid defensive platform needed in Europe.
‘It’s very important to control the game against Brugge,’ he said. ‘We have to score but it’s also important we are team at the back as we’ve been in the Premier League games.
‘We can improve but these have been two important victories. You need those kind of wins at the beginning of the season and we will get better next week, especially our game on the ball.
‘I’m looking forward to the game a lot, I like the night games. I think it will be a special atmosphere at Old Trafford.’