The continuation of David De Gea’s career at Manchester United is starting to be questioned. The reason is because Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently chose Dean Henderson as the Red Devils’ main goalkeeper.
David De Gea has always been Man United’s number one goalkeeper since the start of the 2021-2021 season. He appeared 24 times in 31 Premier League matches. However, the position of the Spanish goalkeeper was threatened by the presence of Dean Henderson.
New Challenger
De Gea was parked when Man United won 3-1 over Tottenham Hotspur in Week 31 of the Premier League, Sunday (11/4/2021). Man United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferred Henderson in this match. Henderson also showed his coach’s choice is correct with a pretty good appearance. The England goalkeeper made some brilliant saves as Man United came back from 0-1 down.
It is the first time since De Gea arrived at Old Trafford in 2011 that his position as Man United’s number one goalkeeper has been seriously questioned. This condition appeared only in Henderson’s first season in the Man United first team who was previously on loan at Sheffield United for two seasons. Henderson, who made his senior debut for England in November last year, is expected to be De Gea’s successor as the Red Devils’ main goalkeeper.
Healthy competition?
De Gea has had a fantastic decade at Man United, but he’s not untouchable at all. With Henderson’s presence, De Gea has a healthy competitor. “The goalkeeping division is a very close group. They work together in preparation, have different training sessions, they are together more often,” Solskjaer said after the match against Spurs, as quoted by Marca.
“Naturally they create a bond and passion in the department where the goalkeepers are at the top. But it is a healthy competition,” added Solskjaer. Solskjaer himself cannot give a definite answer if asked to choose between De Gea or Henderson.
“David has been a top goalkeeper and he’s still like that. He’s working to get ready when he plays,” he said. “If it’s Dean or David, I’m very comfortable with both of them and I’m very happy neither of them would be happy not to play,” said Solskjaer. David De Gea still has a contract at Man United until 2023, but he could leave at the end of the season if Henderson remains Solskjaer’s first choice.
