After his stellar performance at the Bernabeu, criticisms against Manchester United?s keeper David De Gea are expected to be guarded for the time being, but he still walks a tightrope
Even the vastly experienced eyes of Martin Tyler had initially failed to notice the fingertips. It happened so fast. On Sky Sports, he talked about Manchester United?s lucky escape. But Gary Neville was spot on with his observation. He credited David De Gea for making a ?terrific save?.
Fabio Coentrao?s shot from inside the area was going in till United keeper De Gea dived and managed to deflect it off the post early in their Champions League first-leg quarter-final against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu. It turned out to be the defining moment of the match. It remains to be seen if the match becomes a defining moment in De Gea?s career.
Neville?s life-long association with United had put a question mark over his success as a TV pundit when he decided to dive into the unknown. There were suspicions about whether he would be able to criticise his team and erstwhile teammates. About two years into the job and the former United right back has already become the voice of football, with his magnificent insight and excellent analysis. He came down hard on De Gea when his weak punch had set up Tottenham Hotspur?s equaliser in the dying seconds during their Premier League match against United last month. De Gea?s future at Old Trafford was under immense speculation since that mistake.
One of the great qualities of Sir Alex Ferguson is that he never berates his players in public. Even after that very costly error against Spurs he defended De Gea, terming the ?experts? as ?idiots?. And before the game against Real Madrid, he compared De Gea?s career with a baby who is learning to walk. ?Young kids have wobbles. They get up, wobble again, get up and then walk. The boy is walking now,? said the great Scot, with his goalkeeper sitting by his side. About 24 hours later, the manager saw his ?baby? come of age. De Gea was born and raised in Madrid but the Bernabeu was an enemy territory as he played all his football for Atletico Madrid before moving to Manchester. And during his time at Atletico, he conceded eight goals in just three games against Real at the Bernabeu. So the Champions League match was a tough examination for the 22-year-old. The world was watching and De Gea passed the test with flying colours.
Ever since he joined United last season in a ?18.9 million deal, De Gea has been growing up in the cut-throat atmosphere of the Premier League. It was not easy to step into the shoes of the legendary Edwin van der Sar and the young Spaniard choked. He allowed Edin Dzeko to score a soft goal on his debut for United in the Community Shield. Then after the home defeat against Blackburn Rovers, he was dropped for four games. Ferguson has been rotating him with Anders Lindegaard at the start of this season, but the manager always had the belief that he didn?t make a bad investment.
?We at Manchester United are good at developing people,? said Ferguson. Indeed, all the coaching staff walked the extra mile to make De Gea feel at home at Old Trafford. De Gea was just 20 when he joined United and was too slightly-built to deal with the physicality of the Premiership. He couldn?t speak English either.
To start with, a special strength training programme was chalked out for him. Also, goalkeeping coach Eric Steele started learning Spanish to communicate properly with his ward. Steele has taken almost parental care of De Gea and he says it?s the latter?s ?inner strength? that kept him going during difficult periods.
There has never been any doubt about De Gea?s shot-stopping ability, but the way he deals with the crosses against big centre-forwards who are always ready to intimidate physically, remains a concern.
The English Premier League world is an unforgiving territory. Here, the scrutiny will never stop. Before the Champions League match, a story was doing the rounds that Stoke City?s Asmir Begovic will replace De Gea in summer. After his stellar performance at the Bernabeu, criticisms are expected to be a little guarded for the time being, but the young man still walks a tightrope with the cynics ready to pounce on any slip. So consistency will be the buzzword for De Gea. He has to prove himself again and again to be on a par with his illustrious predecessors like Peter Schmeichel and Van der Sar.
Goalkeepers mature with age. Schmeichel was 27 when he came to United. Van der Sar was 34. Ferguson wanted to bring in and develop a young keeper after Van der Sar?s retirement. He didn?t want to lose this ?special talent? after missing out on Petr Cech and Joe Hart when they were younger.
De Gea, and all other young players who play for United, are fortunate to have such a manager by their side. They are also lucky to work in an atmosphere that allows them time and space to grow into their job.
About 4,000 United faithfuls, who went to the Bernabeu, were chanting De Gea?s name at the final whistle. It was a fitting tribute to the keeper?s finest performance of his United career. They knew that without such an effort their team wouldn?t have their nose in front, going into the return-leg fixture at Old Trafford in three weeks? time.
De Gea took the accolades without an overflow of emotion. He had points to prove to those who were questioning his worth. He made a bold statement.
Goalkeeping, basically, is a thankless job. The errors of a goalkeeper are somewhat unfairly highlighted everytime the ball goes into the net. De Gea has copped a lot of flak but he showed resolve. At the Bernabeu, he supported his manager?s claim that the kid was on his way to become a man. Time now to run towards glory.