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Manchester United star David de Gea opens up on rivalry with Dean Henderson
David de Gea has opened up about his rivalry with fellow goalkeeper Dean Henderson for the ‘No 1’ spot at Manchester United. (h/t Manchester Evening News)
De Gea has played an important role for Manchester United throughout his ten-year stint at Old Trafford. The Spaniard has encountered some issues with his form in the last couple of years at the club.
With the emergence of Dean Henderson, after his loan spell at Sheffield United, De Gea’s game-time took a hit last term. The 30-year-old played only 36 out of 61 games in all competitions last season.
Henderson has been a continuous threat for the first-choice goalkeeper. The 24-year-old academy graduate was Manchester United’s first-choice keeper towards the end of last season. But as he is still recovering from the after-effects of contracting Covid in the pre-season, De Gea started the new season as the first-choice.
The Spaniard has made a great start to the Premier League this season. Manchester United are currently unbeaten in this Premier League campaign and sit on top of the table, with De Gea keeping a clean sheet. Meanwhile, Henderson was in action against Arsenal U-23’s on Sunday as he steps up his recovery.
De Gea has had to fight for his spot throughout his career when players like Victor Valdes, Sergio Romero, and Anders Lindegaard were at Old Trafford, with Henderson now emerging as his competitor. The Spaniard talked about this rivalry by saying
“I’ve been with many great ‘keepers here, all of my career in Manchester it’s been Sergio, Valdes, Anders, there’s always been great goalkeepers here in the club. It’s not just the fight between ‘keepers, it’s fighting between the players, we always try to bring the best players so it’s always going to be fighting for your position.
“That’s Manchester United, we try to be ambitious and bring the best players and then try to fight for your position. That’s football, that’s Manchester United.”
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De Gea believes that he is focused to do his best at the club. He insists that Manchester United bring the best players so one has to keep fighting for his position at Old Trafford.
