Importance of De Gea

As David de Gea is linked with a move to Real Madrid, Nick Wright examines just how important the goalkeeper has become to Manchester United.

“He is Spanish, he is a Spanish international and now a Spanish club is coming. His girlfriend is Spanish, and his father and mother come here every week or every two weeks… It is difficult."

Louis van Gaal is under no illusions about the almighty struggle facing Manchester United to keep David de Gea from the clutches of Real Madrid this summer. While reports suggesting the 24-year-old has already agreed terms with the Spanish giants may be premature, Van Gaal’s comments are ominous.

Indeed, having hobbled off with a hamstring injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, the Spaniard may have already played his final game for the club he joined from Atletico Madrid for around £18m four years ago.

Improvement

De Gea’s improvement since an error-strewn debut campaign at Old Trafford has been obvious. “If you look at the improvements he has made from where he was three years ago, it is absolutely staggering,” said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville earlier this season. “He is dominating one-on-ones, there has been a physical maturity and there has been a technical improvement, too. He has become a great goalkeeper."

The Spaniard is the only United player to have started every one of their 37 Premier League games this season, and no player has been more important to their return to the top four. His performances have been described as “unbelievable” by Van Gaal, and they were recognised by his inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year.

The stats are also in his favour. De Gea has only made one error leading to an opposition goal this season, fewer than both Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City’s Joe Hart, and his big chance prevention ratio of 52.78 per cent is only bettered by Southampton’s Fraser Forster.

De Gea has not had it easy this season, either. United have been plagued by defensive injuries throughout the campaign, meaning he has not had the luxury of a settled back four ahead of him. Indeed, the sight of the Spaniard bailing his side out has become a familiar one.

Rescuer

It is impossible to calculate exactly how many points De Gea has rescued for United this season, but the number would easily be in double figures. There was a crucial one-handed save from Glenn Murray in their 2-1 win at Selhurst Park last weekend, a flying stop from Papiss Cisse in the dying moments of a 1-0 victory away to Newcastle in March, and two stunning saves from Leon Osman and Bryan Oviedo in injury time of their 2-1 win at home to Everton in October. The list goes on.

“He has won so many points for the team and for that particular reason he was my young player of the year," said Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry. “As a goalkeeper it’s difficult to win points but he did. How many times have we seen it this season?"

United have made 28 errors leading to shots this season, the third-highest total in the Premier League, but only three of those have resulted in goals, a considerably lower ratio than their rivals. There are a number of factors at play here, but De Gea has undoubtedly been crucial.

In total, he has made 93 saves in the Premier League this season, more than Courtois (72), Hart (83) and David Ospina and Wojciech Szczesny (84).

But shot-stopping is only one of De Gea’s strengths. As well as being a commanding presence in the box, his distribution is excellent. His pass accuracy of 64.22 per cent is the highest of any goalkeeper to have played more than 10 games in the Premier League this season. By contrast, both Courtois and Hart’s stats are under 50 per cent.

Target

De Gea’s outstanding contribution has not gone unnoticed by his team-mates, either. He was their Players’ Player of the Year in 2013/14 and he is the overwhelming favourite to win the award again this season. Victor Valdes, his understudy at United since January, has described him as “the best goalkeeper in the world”, while Juan Mata said it is “tough to find anyone better than him” back in December.

Evidently, Real Madrid agree. “He is a target,” Spanish football expert Guillem Balague confirmed to Sky Sports News HQ this week. “They have been saying it for a while. There have been agents of goalkeepers – the top goalkeepers in the world in some cases – who have gone to Real Madrid and said ‘how about our guy?’ and the answer from Real Madrid is ‘we want de Gea’.”

If the move does go through, it will come as little surprise to Iker Casillas, who predicted as much back in 2011. “He will soon be fighting for my place,” said the long-serving Madrid custodian. “He's a great keeper. We have to take care of him because he is the future. He will pension us all off.”

Van Gaal has promised that he will not part with De Gea “easily”, but if the lure of a return to his hometown club does prove too strong, United will face the unenviable task of replacing arguably their most important player.

Credit: Skysports.com