Gary Neville: Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea needs to make flying start to ease pressure after 18.9m pound transfer

Jul 22, 2011 3:12:00 AM    

By Rob Stewart

Former United defender claims that the Spaniard can succeed legend Van der Sar more successfully than any of Peter Schmeichel's replacements. 

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has warned new goalkeeper David de Gea that he must “hit the ground running” when he makes his debut for the Premier League champions in Chicago on Saturday.

Neville put the importance of a solid start into perspective as the young Spaniard prepared for action against Chicago Fire at Soldier Field where he will make his bow for the Red Devils following an 18.9 million pound transfer from Atletico Madrid.
The former England and United right-back, who broke into the Old Trafford side when Peter Schmeichel was Sir Alex Ferguson’s goalkeeper, predicted that the 20-year-old De Gea would prosper in the new surroundings but insisted that a strong start would help.

“I think that the goalkeeper’s spot is the toughest position on the pitch without a shadow of a doubt because if you make a mistake you are dead,” Neville told Goal.com.

The key? “It is just about getting off to a good start, gaining confidence, getting used to a different culture and generally settling in. So in terms of hitting the ground running it is important for him to get a good start and particularly so at a club like United where the pressure and the expectations are so high.

“But you look at him and he looks as though he has got a very good temperament. He is good with his feet and has played in red-hot atmospheres in Spain already so playing for United shouldn’t faze him.”
De Gea was part of the Spain squad that won this summer’s European Under-21 Championships and has made more than 100 appearances for Atletico since emerging through the club’s academy.

He was signed by Sir Alex following the retirement of Edwin van der Sar after last season’s Champions League final defeat by Barcelona and Neville has already seen parallels between the pair.

“He does look very similar in his style to Edwin in the couple of games I have seen him play,” said Neville, who made more than 600 appearances for United before his retirement last season.

“Spanish goalkeepers have been the best in Europe for the last five or six years with the likes of Reina, Casillas and Valdes and now there is De Gea so they have great goalies. It is a hot-bed for producing talent."

Neville says the difficulties Sir Alex Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele had replacing Peter Schmeichel will have made them gun-shy when it comes to spending large quantities on the position. The fact that they felt comfortable shelling out in this case means they must be certain, according to Neville.

“The experiences we had when we were replacing Peter Schmeichel weren’t all that great to be honest so looking at this one now they must have great confidence in his ability to be a Manchester United goalkeeper for many years to come," Neville said.