Really?! David de Gea lands a spot in Garth Crooks’ team of the week for a ‘thoroughly dependable’ display… despite the Man United goalkeeper having ZERO shots to save in win at Nottingham Forest
- David de Gea was something of a spectator in Man United’s most recent win
- In the win at Nottingham Forest, the Spaniard didn’t face a single shot on target
- Nonetheless, his performance was still rewarded with a Team of the Week pick
Choosing a Team of the Week is totally subjective and divides opinion… but even David de Gea will have been stunned to see his selection this weekend.
BBC Sport analyst Garth Crooks picked out the Manchester United shot-stopper on a weekend where he had zero shots to save.
Manchester United eased Nottingham Forest aside in a 2-0 win at the City Ground with De Gea largely a spectator.
Of their six shots, Forest failed to get a single one of them on target to trouble De Gea.
Despite Crooks himself conceding that De Gea’s performance ‘wasn’t anything special’, he still got the nod as the goalkeeper in his latest XI.
David de Gea was selected for a BBC Team of the Week despite not having a shot to save
Garth Crooks labelled the Man United star’s display as ‘dependable’ but not ‘anything special’
‘The most difficult period for a goalkeeper is when he has nothing to do and then is called upon at a moment’s notice,’ Crooks wrote in his reasoning.
‘If there is one goalkeeper capable of winning a match having spent a considerable amount of time out of the action it is David de Gea.
‘His performance against a stubborn Nottingham Forest wasn’t anything special but thoroughly dependable.’
His selection landed on a weekend where Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga and Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez made some huge saves in their respective matches.
Crooks believes that De Gea has ‘earned’ the right to be United’s new club captain – but his future at the club remains uncertain.
De Gea’s current contract expires at the end of this season and United are keen to reduce his £375,000-a-week wages next time around.
It was reported last month that De Gea, 32, turned down United’s initial contract offer but negotiations are ongoing and it is expected the long-serving stopper will commit.
Nottingham Forest failed to register a single shot on target and were limited to lofted crosses
De Gea was asked by BT Sport whether he wanted to remain at Old Trafford, ahead of the Red Devils’ Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla, which ended 2-2.
‘I want to enjoy, I want to win trophies this season,’ De Gea replied. ‘That is the most important thing for everyone.
‘Let’s see what happens. The most important thing is to be focused on the next games.’
De Gea has kept 21 clean sheets in all competitions for United this season, including 14 in the Premier League, a league’s best.
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