De Gea demands focus at West Ham

Our Spanish goalkeeper is still frustrated by the 3-1 defeat that was suffered at the London Stadium last season and he is adamant that the Reds must make amends for that result this weekend. 

The Hammers began the campaign in terrible fashion by losing 5-0 at home to Manchester City, but have improved since then and Manuel Pellegrini’s team will provide a stern test.

Fresh from signing a new long-term contract at the club, De Gea says his side must step up to the challenge of West Ham and show that wins can be claimed at traditionally difficult away grounds.

“I believe they have a decent side with some good players who are important to them,” David told us this week. “They are on the up at the moment, but we still have bad memories from last season, so we have to be much more switched on right from the off than we were then. 

“There are three very important points at stake for us to remain up there near the top, and also for the younger lads to keep gaining in confidence. We also want to show that’s what we’re here for, going away to difficult grounds and going there for the three points.”

The Reds' passionate away fans will be out in force at the London Stadium and, now in his ninth season at the club, De Gea knows exactly how significant our travelling supporters are for the team.

“They are vitally important to us,” said the goalkeeper. “Our fans that follow us away from home are just incredible. Sometimes it’s just like we are playing at home in those away fixtures! 

“It’s amazing… it helps us all tremendously down there on the pitch, we can always feel the warmth from our fans and that is hugely important to us.”

Of course, De Gea is expected to return to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI on Sunday afternoon after he was rested for the Europa League victory over Astana at Old Trafford on Thursday night. 

David has kept two clean Premier League sheets this season and the Reds have the best defensive record in the division, along with Liverpool and Leicester City, with only four goals conceded.

The 27-year-old is determined to record another shutout and one of the players he may have to stop is Pablo Fornals, his international team-mate with Spain who joined West Ham in the summer.

“I know him from the national team, we’ve been called up together in the same squad once or twice,” De Gea told us. “He’s a quality player and I think he can contribute very well for West Ham. He really showed what he could do at Villarreal and he has a lot of talent and he’s a top player.”

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