Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea had one of the worst matches in his career in the FA Cup semi-finals. It’s time for real competition for his spot.
I have often wondered why anyone would want to be a football goaltender. They stand in front of the goal – alone. Goalkeepers rarely touch the ball. If they make a mistake, it always brings horrible consequences.
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea gave up three goals against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday. Two of those goals were avoidable errors.
These mistakes were initially mental, which resulted in being one step behind physically.
The first goal got into the Spanish keepers’ head as the ball spun away from his hands. When the fatal second goal was struck, he was lost in the noise in his head and lost the signal.
When a goalkeeper loses the mental signal, the body fails.
Football Twitter was harsh on the United goalie, with most calling for his job. In Man U’s next match against West Ham United on Wednesday, Paul Pogba blocked a free-kick from blasting him in the face with his arms resulting in a shot from the spot.
The fan response was typically cynical, suggesting that maybe the World Cup-winning Frenchman should be United’s goalie.
David De Gea has made critical mental and physical errors before, however, because he the goalkeeper of the biggest club in England; those mistakes are magnified by 1000.
All goalies make mistakes; it comes with the territory. With that said, for Manchester United to take the next step, they need to have competition for their #1 goaltender position.