During Manchester United’s struggles in recent years, goalkeeper David de Gea hasn’t been afraid to speak the truth.
De Gea has been one of their best performers in the post-Alex Ferguson era, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award four times.
Despite his impressive performances, United have only won the FA Cup, Europa League and EFL Cup in the last nine seasons and are currently suffering their worst trophy drought in 40 years.
We’ve taken a look at eight times De Gea has been brutally honest when reflecting on United’s performances.
Not up to the standard
“Difficult to put what I am feeling today into words,” De Gea tweeted after a 4-0 defeat to Everton in 2019. “As captain, I want to say that the performance of the team today, on top of the result, was not up to the standard expected when you pull on this shirt.
“We know that we have to improve but words mean little: we have to give everything for this club. That you for your unconditional support.”
Difficult situation
– “Everything,” De Gea said when asked what is missing following a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in October 2019. “A lot of things to improve. I don’t know what to say. Just keep trying, keep fighting, keep improving every day.
“It’s a hard moment for us, a difficult moment but we’re United, we need to keep fighting.”
– “Yes, it probably is the most difficult time since I’ve been here,” he added. “I don’t know [why]. I don’t know what is happening, we cannot score even one goal in two games.
“It’s difficult to say something, sorry to the fans, we will keep fighting for sure, we will come back, but at the moment we are in a difficult situation.”
Video: A dejected De Gea talks about #mufc’s current situation and the defeat to Newcastle #mulive [sky] pic.twitter.com/AP4zkKNRse
— utdreport (@utdreport) October 6, 2019
Shit goals
“It is difficult to describe what I feel now. It hurts. It is not good enough,” the goalkeeper…