Is there even still a debate?
David De Gea’s heroics have saved Manchester United on countless occasions, earning him the club’s Player of the Season award two seasons in a row. The Spaniard has proven that a truly great goalkeeper can indeed win his team ten points a season.
Saturday’s Manchester derby was a chaotic rollercoaster of twists and turns, from which United emerged the victors, delaying City’s title celebrations by at least another fortnight. Key to that victory was Paul Pogba, who stepped up and brought his side level with two excellent finishes early in the second half, and of course, David De Gea.
The United ‘keeper ensured that the visitors held on to their one goal lead with a trademark acrobatic save, tipping Sergio Agüero’s header over the bar.
De Gea has received a lot of praise since the game, and deservedly so. Speaking on talkSPORT, former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given claimed that De Gea is the best goalkeeper in the world.
“He’s the best goalkeeper in the world, let’s not get away from that fact. He’s proven season after season, he seems to be getting better and better. I think Man United fans would be worried now if Madrid come in in the summer and try to snatch him away,” Given said.
There is no doubt that De Gea is among the world’s elite goalkeepers, but recency bias always plays a part. Manuel Neuer is probably the only other goalkeeper at his level and he has suffered from injury this season. But the German should recover in time for the World Cup. Maybe we’ll get to see the pair face each other in the most exciting 0-0 draw of all time.
