Solskjaer set to stick with De Gea despite recent blunders

David de Gea is in the worst form Manchester United fans have seen from him since the very early days of his career in England. He has committed errors that have led to goals in at least 4 of United’s most recent 5 matches, and has looked a lesser version of his usually steller self for most of the current campaign. Despite coming under increased scrutiny of late for his high-profile blunders, the Spaniard is to remain in goal for United’s final two matches of the season.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acknowledged the ‘keeper’s struggles of late, but reaffirmed his confidence in him.

“I would think so, yeah – or he will play. Sergio was injured yesterday so he didn’t train. He tweaked his knee and David’s been training well this week.”

“Of course we trust [David], he’s been fantastic this season. Towards the end now he’s been in the headlines maybe for the wrong reasons, but, as I’ve said so many times, he has to deal with that.”

“The goalkeeping department are a fantastic group together, with Emilio [Álvarez, goalkeeping coach], Sergio, Lee [Grant] and David. They’ve been such a tight-knit group, so they’ve experienced better times obviously than just now but he’s ready for Sunday.”

Conveniently for De Gea, Sergio Romero is also injured, which removes at least some of the pressure on the manager to take Big Dave out of the firing line. It is a delicate situation with De Gea yet to agree to a new contract, and United will be wary of rival clubs sniffing around their best player this summer. De Gea has been United’s best player — and often their only indisputably world class one — for years now, but there will naturally be speculation that he could be sold in the coming window rather than leave for nothing the following year.

In the short term though, De Gea has earned enough good will to be allowed to play through his current rough patch of form.