Bailey Still Amazed By De Gea

Former Manchester United keeper Gary Bailey has offered his view on David De Gea and Thibaut Courtois as the two former Atletico Madrid stoppers line up on opposite sides again this weekend.

Bailey, who won the FA Cup in 1983 and 1985 with the Reds, believes both men are among the top goalies in the game but feels United's reigning Player of the Year has the edge.

"De Gea and Courtois are right up there with the top five in the world right now," he told Inside United. "No question.

"David still amazes me. I was the same age when I was in the team and I felt the need to shout and scream, and try to control people around me. He's just so relaxed - he doesn't get uptight, things go in, he looks at one or two players and then gets on with the game.

"He's got a fantastic temperament and is a wonderful keeper, who makes saves when he needs to. Courtois - okay, he didn't have the best of seasons last year but he's also a wonderful keeper and a bit taller and that bit stronger in the air. So, alongside Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Buffon, they've got to be up there with the best in the world."

When asked to pick which of the number ones was better, Bailey replied: "Difficult one. I think David is because there were a couple of question marks last year with Courtois, but both are great. When Courtois was at Atletico Madrid, he was absolutely brilliant. 

"It's difficult to separate keepers. People ask whether David or Neuer or Buffon is best and they're all different types of keepers, at different ages, doing different things. I just think we are lucky to have David and I really believe, if we get one or two pieces of this jigsaw to click into gear, we've got a wonderful squad.

"It's got to come good and, by good, it's got to come close to winning the league. We're almost there and Jose is the man to do it."