Gea’s Day

“I think people here in Spain have a different view of me than they do in England. I guess that’s why: people don’t watch much Premiership football. And I haven’t had much joy with the National Team”. This is how David De Gea analyzed in El País weeks ago his situation with respect to the Spanish public. One that will be able to enjoy it for the second time this season after facing Villarreal in the group stage of the Champions League This time in an even more demanding scenario: the round of 16 of the Champions League and against his old club, Atlético de Madrid.

The spotlights will be on him for many reasons and he hopes to exhibit on his return to the Spanish capital the high level that he has maintained for weeks in the Premier League. One that earned him for the first time the best player of the month in the English League in January. The best De Gea arrives at the Metropolitan.

If someone is constantly watching the viewer of the Premier, it is the Spanish goalkeeper. After an open rivalry with Dean Henderson, the veteran goalkeeper has prevailed by taking all the minutes in the League from the Englishman. England valued the relief for months and reported that even the club, but the level of the Madrid player made United postpone the moment of saying goodbye. Thus, De Gea has been a fixed element for Solskjaer and Rangnick accumulating all possible minutes in the league. It will be sunny, on a few occasions, or rain thunderously as in the last meeting in Leeds.

A total level of exposure and a brilliant season in the midst of chaos. Manchester United’s poor defensive performance is increasing the number of goals conceded for David De Gea, which is reducing them to the maximum. ANDAccording to data provided by BeSoccer Pro, the presence of the Spaniard makes United’s expected goals drop by 0.2. From a global 1.8 to a particular 1.6 for the Spanish meta.

The global data does not show the best sensations, leaving an average of 1.28 goals conceded per game (41 goals in 32 games), but the numbers ‘expiate’ him for certain sins by being the goalkeeper with the most stops in the competition. Last week the counter stopped at 96 for Meslier’s 85, with whom he faced each other on the last day, or Jose Sá’s 82. Some of them of the highest level and occupying the ‘highlights’ of television and social networks. Although he is already close to a hundred, it is not a fact that makes him excessively happy, as he explained in several interventions and it is shown in his attitude asking for order once he gets up from the green.

His performance reaches even on penalties. Its Te embittered West Ham in the last minute (a stoppage in minute 95 to avoid a tie and give victory) and prevented Watford from extending their lead in one of Solskjaer’s toughest defeats in recent weeks (4-1 and Vicarage Road).

3.66 stops every 90 minutes and another trio of balls stopped for each goal conceded are some more data that show a De Gea who arrives at the Metropolitano on a streak, where Ángel Correa appears as his greatest threat (seven league goals since January). The goalkeeper appears as the best of a United that, as he himself explains, “doesn’t go”.

The finisher has the opportunity to demonstrate to that public that sees him less than his level is that of the best and ‘make noise’ at home ahead of the race for Qatar. Succeed as a red devil to recover the goal of the Red. A white line that last stepped on a distant October 13, 2020.