DAVID DE GEA has become the target of furious Manchester United fans again after TWO horror mistakes against Chelsea.
The Spaniard, once arguably the best goalkeeper in world football, has suffered from a shocking loss of form in the last couple of years.
David De Gea made TWO horror errors against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finalCredit: Reuters
Man Utd fans were not impresed by the latest De Gea Horror showCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
He was at his very worst at Wembley on Saturday, directly responsible for two Chelsea goals in the FA Cup semi-final.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not hold back with his assessment of De Gea, saying the keeper should have saved the second shot “100 times out of 100.”
The Norwegian told BBC Sport: “I can’t speak for David De Gea’s confidence but he is mentally very strong.
“He knows he should save that one 100 times out of 100 but that’s football for you. I made the decision to play him and mentally he was ready for it.
“You know Olivier Giroud’s movement, you know he goes to the near post and we should defend that better.
We are a little too late in those situations and the second goal was very avoidable.”
Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will face questions over De Gea’s future with Dean Henderson impressing out on loanCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Deep in first-half stoppage time – following a long break because of Eric Bailly’s head injury – De Gea was caught unawares by Olivier Giroud.
The French striker turned in a Cesar Azpilicueta cross to the near post that wiggled right through the goalkeeper.
Then, just a minute after the second half started, De Gea produced an even worse howler when he failed to stop Mason Mount’s shot.
Mount – scoring his first goal in 26 games – intercepted a shocking Brandon Williams pass before striking from outside the box.
Although it was reasonably well hit along the ground, it was a save one would expect a Sunday league goalkeeper to make.
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring after his near-post flick squeezed through the keeperCredit: EPA
Speaking on BBC Sport, during the drinks break, Alan Shearer said: “De Gea should do better there.
“It’s a huge error, he really should be saving that.”
Phil Neville added the second mistake was “horrendous”.
Neville, who won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League with United, later said: “He’s unrecognisable from the player who won four player of the year [awards] in five years.
“He keeps making mistakes. You look at the three goals today, I think a confident, on form, assured De Gea saves all three.
“If I was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer I would be worried because his performance levels have dipped and he’s inconsistent now.
“I wouldn’t leave him out [Solskjaer] already stated that Dean Henderson will be a future United No1, but at the moment he will stick with De Gea.
“His credentials are still up there with the best in the world but at the moment he’s just lost all his confidence.”
De Gea then failed to keep out a soft Mason Mount effort just a minute after half-timeCredit: PA:Press Association
Shearer said after the game: “If a keeper has made one or two, you think OK, we’ll stick with him.
“But now I would think the time has come. It keeps happening.
I think if they bring Henderson back he has to come back as No1, otherwise let him stay out on loan. Has that time come? Yes it has.”
United fans on social media were not impressed with the keeper at all.
A number of Tweets called the goalkeeper “finished” while another fan joked his favourite chocolate is a “Butterfinger”.
There were also unflattering comparisons to Kyle Walker – who memorably played in goal for Man City in the champions League – and a ticket attendant at a train station.
Other fans stated that Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous hat-trick at the 2018 World Cup, where De Gea made a huge error, ‘ended’ De Gea as a top class force.
One fan cruelly wrote: “De Gea shouldn’t start another game for Manchester United unless it’s legends friendlies.”
Roy Keane’s name even began trending on the platform – following his savage criticism of the keeper after his blunder against Spurs last month.
Questions were even asked of De Gea after the third goal, Marcos Alonso’s wicked cross being turned in by Antonio Rudiger – via a Harry Maguire deflection – to make it 3-0.
Bruno Fernandes later converted a penalty to make it 3-1, but Chelsea went through and will meet Arsenal in the FA Cup final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
