Amos On De Gea's Best Saves

Young keeper Ben Amos is keenly learning from United no.1 David De Gea. The Spaniard made a host of quality saves last season. Here, Ben analyses the best of them…

Coentrao controlled
v Real Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu
Ben Amos: “Out of all the saves he made I think this is right up there. The occasion’s the biggest thing here. It was a massive game, away at Real Madrid in the Champions League. If that had gone in we could have struggled a little. It was an important save at an important time. The ball’s come around a defender, which can be tough, although the Madrid player probably couldn’t have hit it in any other spot in that situation.”

Scissorkick save
v Real Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu
BA: “This one’s crazy! But, fair play, he’s kept it out. To even think of doing that is genius. But it’s probably instinct. He won’t have thought about doing that – that was just his reaction in the spur of the moment. A lot of people have opinions on how a goalkeeper should play but if you keep the ball out of the net that’s all that matters.”

Taming Torres
v Chelsea, Stamford Bridge
BA: “That’s a really good save, arguably as good as the first one against Real Madrid. In that situation, Torres could have gone either way – back across him to the far post or, as he has done, to the near post – so he has to wait long enough until he makes contact and sees where it’s heading. You’d expect him to go to the back post here but he’s gone towards the near post and David’s clawed it out with a strong hand.”

Rueful Ruiz
v Fulham, Craven Cottage
BA: “At the time I didn’t think he got a touch on this. I was on the bench and thought the ball hit the post. But when you watch it again you realise what a good save it was.”

Leggy at the lane
v Tottenham, White Hart Lane
BA: “He’s started to go one way and then he’s been quick enough to react and thrust out his leg and his arm – I don’t actually know what part of the body he’s saved that with – and turn it around the post. Again, though, he’d have been in similar situations in training plenty of times and in matches it comes down to instinct. I know Tottenham ended up getting a late equaliser but at that stage of the game it was a massively important save.”