Schmeichel's big prediction about De Gea's future
Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel believes David De Gea could play at Old Trafford for another 10 years and contribute to the club winning many more major trophies.
De Gea is set to play his 400th match for the Reds on Monday night and that significant milestone will arrive just days after he overtook the Great Dane on our all-time appearances chart.
In an interview for Monday's official matchday programme, Schmeichel speaks passionately about De Gea’s career so far and what he can still achieve going forward.
“There have been trophies over the last nine years and David will want more of those before he’s done, Peter explains in United Review, which is available to order online. “He’d far rather pick up a few more winners’ medals than Player of the Year trophies, I’m certain.
“Nine years at Manchester United is a long time and reaching 400 appearances for the club is a huge landmark which very few players have managed to do, but David’s got a long way still to go. He’s a young lad. He could play on here for another 10 years. It’s been great to watch his development here and it’ll be very exciting to see him use those experiences to play a big part in United’s future.”
In an interview for Monday's official matchday programme, Schmeichel speaks passionately about De Gea’s career so far and what he can still achieve going forward.
“There have been trophies over the last nine years and David will want more of those before he’s done, Peter explains in United Review, which is available to order online. “He’d far rather pick up a few more winners’ medals than Player of the Year trophies, I’m certain.
“Nine years at Manchester United is a long time and reaching 400 appearances for the club is a huge landmark which very few players have managed to do, but David’s got a long way still to go. He’s a young lad. He could play on here for another 10 years. It’s been great to watch his development here and it’ll be very exciting to see him use those experiences to play a big part in United’s future.”
While looking back on De Gea’s nine seasons since joining United in 2011, Schmeichel highlights two famous saves that showed him our Spanish no.1 is the real deal.
“There’s no debate about it: he’s been fantastic since he came to the club,” says the Treble winner. “He’s been Player of the Year in almost half the seasons he’s been at the club, and some of the saves he has made have been absolutely phenomenal.
“There are too many to list, but obviously the free-kick from Juan Mata [at Chelsea in 2012] stands out in my mind for being a turning point in his United career. From that point on, I was looking at David and thinking: ‘This guy… he’s something special.’ Then there was the save at Anfield from Joel Matip [in 2017], the one he made with his foot. His reactions are just unbelievable at times.”
“There’s no debate about it: he’s been fantastic since he came to the club,” says the Treble winner. “He’s been Player of the Year in almost half the seasons he’s been at the club, and some of the saves he has made have been absolutely phenomenal.
“There are too many to list, but obviously the free-kick from Juan Mata [at Chelsea in 2012] stands out in my mind for being a turning point in his United career. From that point on, I was looking at David and thinking: ‘This guy… he’s something special.’ Then there was the save at Anfield from Joel Matip [in 2017], the one he made with his foot. His reactions are just unbelievable at times.”
Schmeichel also offers his opinion of De Gea’s current role in the team and how he is adapting to a new style of play under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“This team is evolving under Ole and that means that David’s role is changing too,” says Peter.
“If you’re a goalkeeper that has been busy for years, and now you’re not busy, you have to change your game a little bit. You need to find new ways of keeping your concentration, of staying with the game.
“This team is evolving under Ole and that means that David’s role is changing too,” says Peter.
“If you’re a goalkeeper that has been busy for years, and now you’re not busy, you have to change your game a little bit. You need to find new ways of keeping your concentration, of staying with the game.
34 of De Gea's best saves during 2019/20 Video
34 of De Gea's best saves during 2019/20
🙌 David's latest milestone is an excuse to enjoy his best saves in 19/20! From good to great, here are 34...
“We want to challenge for titles and you win them with clean sheets and goals. If you make saves and keep a clean sheet, that guarantees you one point, that’s it.
“But if you score goals then you’ve got a better chance of winning three points, and going forward we look incredibly exciting.”
Visit ManUtd.com/programme to order your copy of United Review.
“But if you score goals then you’ve got a better chance of winning three points, and going forward we look incredibly exciting.”
Visit ManUtd.com/programme to order your copy of United Review.
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