Published: September 30, 2021 3:45 pm
Last Updated: September 30, 2021 10:52 pm
Manchester United leave it late to overcome Villarreal
In a repeat of the Europa League final, Manchester United took on Villarreal on Wednesday, this time at Old Trafford in the Champions League. No doubt set on revenge for the defeat inflicted upon them by Unai Emery’s side, it was nonetheless Villarreal that looked the stronger side to begin with.
Indeed, only a brilliant first-half performance from Spanish shot-stopper David de Gea kept the score at 0-0 heading into the break, with United creating little themselves.
HT: Man Utd 0-0 Villarreal
The Spanish side have had chance after chance, but David De Gea has matched everything so far ⛔️#UCL pic.twitter.com/zpbdnLuHMd
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 29, 2021
After Alex Telles cancelled out a Paco Alcacer opener, the game was drifting towards a stalemate. However, Cristiano Ronaldo reacted first to a loose ball and fired home with virtually the last kick of the game, to send Old Trafford into pandemonium and remind viewers of exactly why he returned.
De Gea now number 1?
Right up until the 95th minute, it seemed that the story of the encounter would be the brilliance of David de Gea, only for Ronaldo’s last-gasp winner to once again catapult the Portuguese star front and centre, to the delight of Manchester United’s fans.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was quick to heap praise on his shot-stopper, who lost his place to Dean Henderson last season, explaining:
“Thankfully we had the best goalkeeper in the world tonight,”
“David was fantastic. Second-half, they had more of the ball, it was open and they deserved to lead.”
David De Gea made six saves against Villarreal, the third most by a Man Utd goalkeeper in a single game in the #UCL since 2016/17.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was thankful he had the best goalkeeper in the world. 😅 pic.twitter.com/6vmFleXcF7
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 30, 2021
“[De Gea] had a difficult summer. He went to the Euros and didn’t play there, but he’s really come back with a determination, a work rate, that I enjoy. Again, he got a deserved outcome.
“He saved us tonight. We have to be realistic and say that we’ve got two good keepers in Tom [Heaton] and Dean [Henderson], but today David deserves Man of the Match.”
These comments seem to suggest that, for the moment at least, de Gea will remain no.1 at Old Trafford, even when Henderson returns to full fitness once more.
Read more:
Manchester United fans left drooling over Villareal star after Champions League performance
Fans react as Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot endures horror 45 minutes
This article was edited by
Conor Laird.
