Pranav Nair
Relationship between Solskjaer and De Gea sours at Manchester United
According to Manchester Evening News, the relationship between Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and goalkeeper David de Gea continues to be strained, with the latter’s future at the club in doubt.
De Gea has been at United since 2011 and is one of a handful of players left over from the Sir Alex Ferguson era. The 30-year-old has been the club’s first-choice goalkeeper for a decade but has now found his position under threat.
Dean Henderson started off the season as De Gea’s understudy. However, the Spaniard’s absence last month has seen Henderson establish himself in goal.
As things stand it would appear that tensions between the Spaniard and Solskjaer have been simmering for a while.
The United boss planned on dropping the Spaniard last November against West Bromwich Albion but the 30-year-old’s poor reaction saw Solskajer reverse his decision and start him instead.
A similar incident also occurred in February when the Red Devils took on Chelsea. De Gea’s reaction once again forced Solskajer’s hand and he chose against preferring Henderson. To be fair to De Gea, he kept clean sheets in both games.
There appears to be growing support for Henderson in the United dressing room. The consensus is that the Englishman should be the No.1 goalkeeper at the club. (h/t The Daily Mail)
Winds of change?
Solskjaer, until recently, has played the Spaniard when available. However, De Gea’s recent absence appears to have tipped the scales against him.
Henderson has now started seven games on the spin. He was preferred yesterday against Brighton despite De Gea being available.
Speaking after the game, Solskjaer did his best to play down suggestions of any conflict. He admitted that both goalkeepers will get game time but didn’t really address the issue head-on.
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De Gea has two years left on his current deal and at 30, he is entering his twilight years. The same cannot be said of Henderson, who only signed a new five-year deal last year.
Solskjaer has a major decision to make this summer and it remains to be seen what he chooses to do.
