Romero Ready To Deputise Again

Sergio Romero has recounted the moment David De Gea suffered an injury before Manchester United’s Europa League defeat at FC Midtjylland, resulting in the back-up goalkeeper producing a superb individual performance amid difficult circumstances in Denmark.

Romero's own pre-match preparation consisted of little more than a dash back to the visitors' changing room to get his full match kit on, but that didn't stop the Argentinian producing a handful of spectacular saves throughout his first senior start since facing Middlesbrough on 28 October.

During an exclusive interview with United Review ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford, the World Cup finalist insists a relaxed mental state is pivotal to being the back-up goalkeeper with the Reds and declares he’s ready to deputise again with De Gea still injured for Thursday night's action.

“I’m fortunate to have a very calm head on my shoulders,” says Romero. “I always have to be ready and waiting for my chance to play. I was helping David to warm up, then when he went down injured I didn’t get the chance for a proper warm-up because it was only five minutes until kick-off.

“But a lot of my game is based upon how I feel mentally. If I feel good and relaxed in my head, it’s not a problem; I can play without a proper warm-up, as if I’d been out there preparing for half-an-hour.

“I would have liked my saves to have helped the team more, and for the team to have taken something from the game ahead of the second leg here at home. Unfortunately the saves didn’t count for a lot as we didn’t manage to come away with that positive result.

“However, they were important to me as they helped me to demonstrate to myself that I’m always ready to play and help my team-mates whenever I get the chance to feature.”

Romero's second-half leap to stop Paul Onuachu's header has already emerged as a strong contender for save of the season and the 29-year-old even admits it may be his best ever.

“It was one of the best I’ve made in my life,” Sergio explains, before citing one other stop. “There’s another save, when I was playing for Sampdoria against Roma, which was a lot like this one. Maybe the one back then didn’t ask quite as much of me but it was very similar in that my movement was almost exactly the same.

“They were both very nice occasions and they are the moments that tell me personally that I’m totally prepared for whenever my manager needs to call on me.”