Manchester United has a history of integrating new goalkeepers who must acclimate to the iconic stage of Old Trafford.
Let’s rewind to August 2011, when Sir Alex Ferguson harked back to Peter Schmeichel’s early challenges to console David de Gea. De Gea, a young Spaniard recruited from Atletico Madrid to succeed Edwin van der Sar, was grappling with the demands of the Premier League after his summer arrival.
David de Gea had committed a pair of blunders, gifting Manchester City an edge in the Community Shield. Yet Chris Smalling and Nani stepped in with an extraordinary comeback to rescue him. This reprieve spared the goalkeeper from a thorough examination at the final whistle, as the analysis centered more on the sensational turnaround than on the vulnerabilities in the goalkeeping department
Further misery was to come for De Gea against West Bromwich Albion in the league, with the title of ‘dodgy ‘keeper’ being unwillingly bestowed upon him. There were even calls for backup Anders Lindegaard to come in and take over from the seemingly unreliable new signing.
Nonetheless, Ferguson remained steadfast in his support for De Gea, and it paid off handsomely in one of the season’s most significant matches. With the scoreline at 1-0, De Gea executed a stunning penalty save, denying Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, using the same goalposts that Andre Onana would later defend against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night.
Although the timing of the save wasn’t as nail-biting as the one we witnessed this week, De Gea’s heroics were equally pivotal as Manchester United went on to dismantle Arsenal 8-2 at the Theatre of Dreams. At the conclusion of the match, a jubilant Ashley Young attributed the victory to De Gea’s sheer brilliance.
“It was an incredible save,” he remarked. “We’ve witnessed his excellence in training, and he’s proven it once more today. The penalty save was exceptional, and he performed brilliantly throughout the game.”
From this juncture onward, De Gea started to establish himself as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper. He played a pivotal role in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last Premier League title-winning team. Even during the challenging post-Ferguson period, De Gea consistently stood out as a beacon of hope and excellence.
