Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has had another dominant season, which should end with the Spaniard claiming his first Golden Glove award. #DaveSaves has been in full effect this campaign as United’s #1 has essentially been their primary constant, during a roller coaster season.
United have made a huge leap in the Premier League table from year one of the Jose Mourinho regime to year two. After a sixth place finish last term, the Red Devils are poised to finish second this campaign. While that is impressive, United are still far far behind the team on the other side of town and De Gea knows it.
Manchester City made a Premier League title run for the ages this season, achieving a historically dominant campaign. Currently, City sit 16 points ahead of United, and De Gea knows his side must be much more consistent if they hope to catch them next year.
“We’ve got a great manager. He’s very experienced, he’s won everything there is to win in the game,” De Gea said as he extolled Mourinho’s virtues.
“What he’s really good at is transmitting his winning mentality to the group. However, at the end of the day, it’s down to ourselves: the players on the field. It’s us who make the saves, create the chances and score the goals.”
“So, as a group, we’ve got to get that level of consistency and quality throughout the season.”
United won three trophies during Mourinho’s first season, but they haven’t claimed any this season. They do have a chance May 19 in the FA Cup final versus Chelsea however. United’s arch-rival, Liverpool, has the reputation of being the club that beats the big boys and loses to the minnows, and that’s deserved, but also take a look at United’s season results.
They were the only team to win at the Etihad, and they beat everybody in the top six. However, they also dropped points against bottom feeders and relegation zone teams like Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion, Huddersfield Town, Southampton and Stoke City. They even beat the very top of the table team and then lost to the absolute bottom side eight days later.
De Gea is spot on when he highlights his side’s inconsistency.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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