De Gea made another error as United were held 1-1 by Chelsea in a blow to their top-four hopes
Sunday 28 April 2019 21:11, UK
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists David de Gea's mistakes are not the reason Manchester United are sixth in the Premier League, and believes dropping the Spaniard is not the answer.
De Gea fumbled Antonio Rudiger's long-range effort for Marcos Alonso to equalise in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with United at Old Trafford on Super Sunday, meaning Solskjaer's side face a huge task to qualify for the Champions League.
The result leaves them sixth, three points behind Chelsea with just two matches remaining, meaning no Champions League football for only the second season since 1995 looks likely.
De Gea had also made errors in United's three previous defeats - against Man City, Everton and Barcelona - but Solskjaer says that, while De Gea is not undroppable, leaving him out of the side now would not help.
Asked if he had any concerns over De Gea, Solskjaer said: "I don't really. I know David. You know when you're a goalkeeper or a striker you're always in the spotlight, every time you miss a chance, or score you either get a bad or good headline. It's same with David.
"He's been in the spotlight for the right reasons for so long, now he's going through a period where he probably feels he can do better. No, I don't have worries because he is a strong character."
After one journalist suggested leaving him out of the firing line may help, Solskjaer defiantly replied: "You think so? There's many different ways of getting back into your best performances, and of course I'll sit down and speak with David, as I've done when he plays well. He's not the reason we're in sixth position at the moment.
"You cannot say there is any complacency, David is not the type, he is competitive and wants to be the best. David knows he could have done better with the goal, there's no point denying it and there's no point in pointing fingers."
Solskjaer also told Sky Sports: "There's no chance that anyone can blame him for losing many points for us. He's been unbelievable. Yes, today he knows he could have had that shot, but that's football again.
"I think David is one that likes to play games, of course I'll have chats with him this week and I'm sure he'll respond in the right way."
Solskjaer has recently said some of his United players need a reality check but, asked for the reasons his side are sitting sixth in the Premier League table, the Norwegian pointed to inconsistency.
"There's many reasons. We're challenging against good teams. Maybe it has been inconsistency. Today we were flying first half, on the front foot.
"We were tired towards the end, that's for sure. We've addressed that issue before."
On the issue of fatigue, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: "Maybe some tired legs out there, I don't know, or tired heads. We needed to win the game, we didn't manage to get the tempo, quality, like we had in the first half. The patterns we had in the first half never turned up in the second half."
De Gea's compatriot Juan Mata jumped to his defence after the game, telling Sky Sports that his quality is unquestionable.
"David is unquestionable for me. His level has been fantastic for this club, the best player over the last years. The amount of points he has saved us is incredible.
"I have 100 per cent confidence in him, we all have. His level for me is unquestionable."
De Gea's howler leaves his team's hopes of securing Champions League football next season looking bleak. What has happened to United's once-reliable goalkeeper?
Adam Bate looks deeper at the goalkeeper's problems this season
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said the draw doesn't do much for his side, despite leaving them in a strong position for the top four after Spurs and Arsenal lost.
"The draw is not so much important for us, because with the 1-1 here we have to win the last two matches, otherwise we are at risk in the goal difference, I think."
One flashpoint during the game was Marcos Rojo's nasty lunge on Willian, which left the Chelsea man with a knock but only resulted in a yellow card. Sarri said an "orange" card would have suited the offence.
"William was not happy, I think. The card was an orange card. Between the yellow and the red card. We have to accept everything from the referee, of course it is not easy for the referee. In my opinion the yellow card was a little bit not enough."
United now go to relegated Huddersfield on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm; Kick-off is at 2pm.
