November POTM: Winner announced!
The votes are in and we can announce that David De Gea has been crowned Manchester United’s Player of the Month for November.
Our Spanish goalkeeper was up against Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo in the public vote, with the latter attempting to triumph for the third consecutive month.
Sancho also had a strong case as he notched his first two goals for the Reds during the games with Villarreal and Chelsea.
But David was the frontrunner from the moment the poll was opened and is the deserved winner as he continued his positive individual start to the campaign.
Why De Gea is our Player of the Month
David De Gea beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho to win our monthly award for November! Here's why...
Surprisingly, it’s the first time David has won this particular accolade since February 2018, when he was in the midst of arguably his greatest season at Old Trafford.
It will take a lot for De Gea to match the exploits of that incredible 2017/18 campaign, or indeed the 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 terms when he was also named Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year, but our no.1 has excelled so far and was also nominated for the award in September and October.
In November, David made several brilliant saves during the first half of the derby defeat to City, and also denied Ismaila Sarr not once but twice from the penalty spot against Watford, after the Senegalese forward was allowed to retake his original effort.
Arguably De Gea’s best performance came in his native Spain, as two key saves from Villarreal’s Manu Trigueros in either half were vital in us keeping a clean sheet and securing top spot in Group F.
He also had to be relied upon at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, particularly during an attritional first half where Chelsea were virtually camped in our third of the pitch.
Caretaker manager Michael Carrick agreed that, without De Gea’s early heroics, United wouldn’t have been able to grow into the game and emerge with a largely positive 1-1 draw.
“Yeah, David has done what he does,” said Carrick when informed the 31-year-old was leading the voting.
“I thought the first save [against Chelsea], from [Callum] Hudson-Odoi, kind of epitomised how important he can be for us at a crucial time of the game, so early in the game.
“That is when you need your goalkeeper to step up and that almost gave us a platform to take on for the rest of the game. He’s been making many of those saves over the years, David, and I’m sure he’ll make plenty more.”
Congratulations David – you’re a worthy winner!
PLAYERS OF THE MONTH 2021/22
August: Mason Greenwood
September: Cristiano Ronaldo
October: Cristiano Ronaldo
November: David De Gea