Manchester United: David de Gea earns TOTY spot
By Wyatt Miner
In this year’s Premier League season, de Gea has stood out amongst other goalkeepers to earn a spot in the PFA team of the year.
The first choice goalkeeper for Jose Mourinho impressed many people this year, making numerous unreal saves. Furthermore, as the season winds down, Manchester United’s de Gea edges closer and closer to earning more awards.
Before the Bournemouth match, the Spaniard received news that he made the team of the year. For Wednesday’s match up, Manchester United’s number one earned the captain’s armband. In addition, he earned his 17th clean sheet of the season.
In Premier League action, how great has the world’s best goalkeeper performed? From this season alone, de Gea totals 108 saves so far. Predictably, not all shots faced were tough to manage, but over 100 saves is something remarkable. Even more surprising, de Gea has only conceded 26 times.
By far, de Gea has been the best goalkeeper in the league. Manchester United’s defense appeared porous often times in the season, but de Gea is the reason United are in second place. Yes, offense wins games, but so does good goalkeeping.
Here are some of de Gea’s best saves:
What aspects of de Gea’s game earned him a team of the year spot?
David de Gea impressed many people this season. For example, de Gea faced shots from point blank range on multiple occasions this season. Perhaps, de Gea’s best save came against Liverpool. Furthermore, Liverpool came down into United’s half, posing a substantial threat. Then, Liverpool registered a shot on goal, but de Gea’s foot kept the ball out of the back of the net.
The shot came from within close range, and it is possible that this save strengthened his claim to the team of the year.
In the first leg of the Sevilla match, de Gea faced a heading attempt within six yards of the goal line. To everyone’s surprise, he stuck his hand up just in time to deflect it behind the goal. While the keeper made the save in European competition, that save is perhaps one of the Spaniard’s best saves.
Next: Manchester United secure 2-0 win over Bournemouth
David de Gea’s season is remarkable because he emerged as the world’s best goalkeeper. In previous seasons, the Spaniard impressed everyone, but in this season, de Gea received the recognition he deserves. David de Gea’s claim to the team of the year position led to numerous great goalkeepers being snubbed. In the remaining games of the season, de Gea only looks to add to his impeccable statistics.