David de Gea’s Manchester United Debut: Defender Doubts and Ferguson’s Faith
Patrice Evra has revealed that Manchester United legends Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic initially had reservations about their new teammate, David de Gea, upon his arrival at Old Trafford. According to Evra, the established central defensive partnership felt that the young Spanish goalkeeper wasn’t quite up to the mark in his early days.
Evra, a beloved figure at Manchester United with 379 appearances and numerous trophies under his belt during his eight-year tenure, shared these fascinating anecdotes on The Overlap, a show brought to you by Sky Bet. This insightful discussion included fellow Manchester United icons Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane, and pundit Ian Wright.
During the conversation, Evra delved into various topics, notably the initial period of David de Gea’s Manchester United career following his £18.9 million transfer from Atletico Madrid. Sir Alex Ferguson famously took a personal trip to watch De Gea, even missing a League Cup match to scout him, identifying him as the successor to the legendary Edwin van der Sar. However, De Gea’s introduction to English football was challenging. He faced difficulties adapting to the physicality and directness of the Premier League and frequently became a target for opposing teams’ attacks.
Evra disclosed that the concerns regarding De Gea’s performances weren’t limited to external critics. Internally, the experienced defensive duo, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, voiced their worries to Sir Alex Ferguson himself. Their primary concern, as Evra explained, was De Gea’s communication compared to the then-backup goalkeeper, Anders Lindegaard.
Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
- Initial Concerns: Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic believed David de Gea was not performing at the required level initially.
- Communication Issue: The central defenders felt De Gea was less vocal than Anders Lindegaard, impacting the defense’s cohesion.
- Rotation Policy: Ferguson initially rotated De Gea and Lindegaard, which further unsettled the defensive line, according to Evra.
Evra recounted the defender’s perspective: “For me, the captain of the defence was Edwin van der Sar,” Evra stated. “The problem came when David de Gea came. I remember he didn’t talk, and Vidic and Rio, they were like: ‘Okay, Anders [Lindegaard] is louder. So he needs to play.'”
This led to a phase of rotation, as Evra described: “We’d play one game with Anders, then one game with De Gea. And we said to the boss: ‘You need to pick one, because this is making the defence fragile.'” The defenders felt the uncertainty in the goalkeeping position was creating instability within the team’s defensive structure.
From ‘S***’ to Star: De Gea’s Triumph at Old Trafford After Initial Struggles
Despite early errors and external and internal pressure, Sir Alex Ferguson remained steadfast in his belief in David de Gea’s potential. Ferguson’s unwavering support proved crucial in De Gea’s development and eventual success. This faith was ultimately rewarded as De Gea went on to become a Manchester United icon.
Evra revealed a telling anecdote about Ferguson’s man-management and his approach to nurturing young talent: “I remember there was one game, De Gea was playing really bad. And he [Sir Alex] said to him: ‘You know what, you are really s***’. But actually now you are going to play every game, you are going to be the number one. Because I believe in you. I trust you.'”
This tough love and explicit declaration of confidence marked a turning point. “And that’s when David de Gea started to play consistently,” Evra added. Interestingly, Evra also disclosed that Anders Lindegaard was initially slated to be the first-choice goalkeeper before an unfortunate injury. “But Anders told me he was supposed to be the number one. And one training session before that game, he got injured. So that’s why the boss had no choice but to go with De Gea.” This twist of fate arguably accelerated De Gea’s path to becoming United’s undisputed number one.
De Gea’s resilience and Ferguson’s trust paid dividends handsomely. He silenced his critics, including those within his own dressing room, by blossoming into one of the world’s best goalkeepers during his 12 years at Manchester United. His achievements include:
- Four-time Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year awards.
- Holding the Manchester United record for most clean sheets with 190.
- Winning eight major trophies, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League.
After departing Manchester United in 2023, De Gea spent a period without a club before joining Serie A side Fiorentina, marking a new chapter in his distinguished career.
What are your memories of David de Gea’s early days at Manchester United? Let us know in the comments below!