Signing goalkeepers at Old Trafford hasn’t been the easiest job.
When Peter Schmeichel left United we stumbled through the goalkeeping wilderness until we signed Edwin van der Sar in 2005, 6 years later!
Now van der Sar has called it a day, Spain’s David De Gea has been drafted in to fill his boots and Sir Alex feels that unlike when Schmeichel left, he has got the right man for the job.
Questions have been raised about De Gea, his ability and more so his age but ringing endorsement from Alex Stepney and Edwin van der Sar himself will go some way to settle any nerves.
And speaking of age, Sir Alex Ferguson feels De Gea can more than cope with the pressure having passed up on a chance to sign another young keeper,
“I went to see Cech when he was at Rennes. He was 19 and I said to myself: ‘Yeah, he’s too young’. But Chelsea bought him not long afterwards for £7m or something and he’s never been out of the team.
“So youth, age, it doesn’t matter when you have the ability of a goalkeeper like Cech or, we know, David De Gea has.”
It’s not just a hunch that leads Sir Alex to believe he can deal with being in the hot seat as he spoke on the keeper’s strengths,
“He’s young, quick and has fantastic presence and composure. His use of the ball is outstanding.”
De Gea joins up with the team in Seatlle having been given an extended break following his Euro u21 triumph and despite the game being a friendly pre season affair it will allow us the chance to see what route De Gea will go down.
