David De Gea was deservedly named as Manchester United’s player of the year for the second season in a row earlier this month – but he’s not warranted every accolade that’s come his way this term.
The Spaniard’s been in scintillating form for the Red Devils this term and pipped team-mates Chris Smalling and Anthony Martial to the Matt Busby player of the year award for his performances.
The 25-year-old was desperate to join Real Madrid last summer and was left ruing the La Liga giants’ failure to push through the move when United were sent crashing out of the Champions League group stages in December.
It meant Louis van Gaal’s side were demoted to the Europa League, where they limped past Midtjylland before being knocked out by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
De Gea was injured in the last 32 but played both games as United lost 2-0 and drew 1-1 as they bowed out to Liverpool in the last 16.
The Spaniard certainly wasn’t at his best to keep out the side’s north-west rivals and conceded three goals in 180 minutes but, bizarrely, he’s still been named in the competition’s squad of the year.
