Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea reflects on a disappointing 2021/22 season and questions dressing room
Speaking to MUTV after his side’s 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace tonight (h/t Manchester Evening News), Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea reflected on a poor 2021/22 season for the club and questioned the attitude of the dressing room.
The final game of the campaign saw the Red Devils fall to a disappointing result against Palace at Selhurst Park, falling behind to a Wilfred Zaha goal. The away side caused their own downfall, with Zaha capitalising on a wayward pass from Bruno Fernandes.
de Gea looked back at the season and said he wants to forget it, instead preferring to be positive. He mentioned that the presence of Erik ten Hag in the stands was positive, and hopes that things will get better next season.
“I just want to be positive, to forget about this season. The new manager [Erik ten Hag] was in the stands, so that’s a good signal. I hope things will get better for next season – that’s the past already. We all know it’s been a bad season, for everyone.”
ten Hag will take over from Ralf Rangnick in the summer, with the latter ending his tenure as interim manager of the club on a disappointing note by losing to the Eagles. The German was appointed by the club to guide the team into the Champions League, but has fallen well short of the target.
“The people who don’t want to stay, just go”
The result saw the Red Devils finish the season in sixth place in the Premier League table, securing UEFA Europa League football for the upcoming season. They will join Arsenal in the continental competition next term, as the Gunners finished fifth.
de Gea also lashed out at the dressing room after the game tonight, saying that people who do not want to stay at the club can go. The 31-year-old said that those who wanted to stay at Old Trafford beyond the summer need to be ready to fight again next season.
“The people who don’t want to stay, just go, and the people who really want to stay at the club, who want to fight for the club, let’s have a good rest in the summer, prepare ourselves in the mind and in the body and be ready to fight again next season.”
ten Hag will have plenty to work on in the summer as he prepares to take over from Rangnick as the club’s new permanent manager. He now becomes the fifth permanent boss to be appointed by United since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
He is expected to lead a massive squad rebuild, with a lot of transfer activity expected at the Theatre of Dreams in the upcoming summer transfer window. de Gea will be one of the very few players who may be looking forward to surviving the axe, given his performances this season.
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The Spaniard, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Elanga, has been one of the very few bright spots for the Red Devils during the current campaign. The goalkeeper has been in excellent form, saving many precious points for the team with his quick reflexes and shot-stopping ability at the back.
Although ten Hag is yet to comment on whether he views de Gea as his preferred keeper next season, the former Atletico Madrid man’s chances look good based on his displays this term. It remains to be seen if his form for the Manchester side has been enough to keep his spot on the team safe under the new manager.
