Watch: De Gea fumes about ‘painful, horrible, embarrassing’ season
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has given a new interview whereby he pulls no punches on how it’s felt to represent the club during their dismal 2021-22 campaign.
De Gea is the longest-serving player in the United squad. Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he’s the only first-team regular that won a Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson.
So the goalkeeper is all too aware of how far the club have fallen since those lofty heights. He’s been outspoken in many a post-match interview this season in spelling out where the club are going wrong and how they’re well below the standards expected.
The latest comments were broadcast ahead of United’s latest clash at home to Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel’s Blues didn’t open the scoring in the opening half at Old Trafford but they put in a dominant display, keeping De Gea busy.
In familiar scenes, Roy Keane in the Sky Sports studio and Gary Neville from the commentary box were severely critical of the performance in the opening 45 minutes.
The Red Devils could end the campaign with the joint-lowest placing of the Premier League era – 7th – and could well register their lowest points tally, with a strong finish to the season required to match or beat their total of 64 points from the 2013-14 campaign when David Moyes was in charge.
The 2021-22 campaign will finish without silverware, while Champions League qualification is almost certainly beyond United. They will be playing in the Europa League or Europa Conference League next term under incoming coach Erik ten Hag.
“For me it is tough, I have been here for many years,” De Gea told Sky Sports.
“When you are on the pitch and you are 3-0 or 4-0 down – it is too painful. It makes me feel embarrassed and I feel horrible on the pitch. We have to change this mindset and everything.
“We need to do more. Everyone needs to do more. We need to try to win games and be in the top positions.”
🗣 “For me I feel embarrassed sometimes.”
David De Gea on representing Manchester United at the moment. pic.twitter.com/YhJNNINB2Z
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 28, 2022
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