Manchester United goalkeeping coach reflects on David De Gea’s ‘difficult’ first season
'GRADUAL PROCESS': David De Gea
Posted Saturday, July 28, 2012 - 05:50
Filling the gloves of Manchester United goalkeeping legend Edwin Van Der Sar is an unquestionably challenging task – just ask David De Gea.
The Spanish Under-21 international was a £19 million signing from Atletico Madrid last summer, and endured a mixed first season at Old Trafford, full of peaks and troughs.
United’s head goalkeeping coach, Eric Steele, has reflected on the Spaniard’s maiden season and English football and revealed that De Gea had a challenge adapting to the English game.
In an interview with in-house club channel MUTV, Steele said: “The first season is always the most difficult. He has been through lots of firsts and we know he'll be better prepared in terms of the second time.
“David will be slightly disappointed but there was no way we expected him to come in and play as he had been playing.
“We knew it would be a gradual process [getting used to the English game] and would've liked to dip him in and out a bit more but we couldn't do that.”
De Gea started last season as United’s number one goalkeeper, but was rotated with Dane Anders Lindegaard after a series of scrutinised performances.
These included the 3-2 Community Shield win over rivals Manchester City and a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford to Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League around Christmas time.
Although admitting that De Gea’s United career got off to a rocky start, Steele is convinced that this will help the Spaniard in the long-term and the competition between him and Lindegaard is beneficial to both goalkeepers.
Steele said: “To replace Edwin, we needed two and that was the main reason why Anders Lindegaard was on board.
"Yes, there were errors [from De Gea] but where the manager comes into his own is he has great faith in young players and all he did was reinforce the good with him.
“David also knew he had to appreciate very quickly that there was a challenge from Anders and he wasn't an automatic choice and Lindegaard helped David to a point as he was growing all the time during that spell and was ready to take the spot."
While there were some low points, Steele has pointed out that there were several outstanding moments for De Gea, and this should hold him in good stead in his second campaign with the Red’s.
Steele said: “"You don't beat Arsenal 8-2 without his penalty save at 1-0 and the save just after half time at 2-1 from Robin van Persie, who could have had a hat-trick that day.
“There was the performance at Liverpool as well, with the save from Jordan Henderson in the last minute.
“It was important he finished strongly and that's the big plus factor for us that he has adapted partly.”
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