Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper, David de Gea has urged his teammates who don’t want to stay at Old Trafford ahead of the 2022-2023 season to do so.
Note that the 2021-2022 season is the worst Premier League season in the history of Manchester United. Before this season, United have never finished a league campaign with just 58 points in 38 games.
They achieved such an embarrassing feat after recording a whopping 12 defeats and 10 draws in the league. Their woeful performance could not qualify them for next season’s UEFA Champions League campaign.
All David de Gea and his teammates could achieve this season was a 6th placed finish which only earned them a Europa League football ahead of the 2022-2023 season.
Funny enough, Manchester United almost lost the opportunity of qualifying for the Europa League as they lost to Crystal Palace 1-0 on the last day of the Premier League campaign (May 22).
Fortunately for them, 7th placed West Ham United which ought to beat Brighton to replace United on the 6th spot, lost to West Ham United 3-1. Hence, West Ham will have to play Europa Conference League next season.
As for Manchester United, a couple of players who primarily joined the club because of UEFA Champions League football could leave the club for other top clubs playing in the elite continental competition.
A player like Cristiano Ronaldo who has featured in the Champions League for over 17 years might be tempted to leave United for a Champions League playing club. However, there are reports that the 37-year-old Portuguese star would want to stay back at Old Trafford.
A player like David de Gea who has been at Manchester United since July 1, 2011, does not care about the players who might want to leave ahead of next season. He has urged those who want to stay to have a good rest ahead of the coming season.
“It’s the same feeling”, David de Gea told MUTV after Manchester United lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace on Sunday. “The level we have shown in the last three or four months isn’t enough to win a Premier League match, we were sloppy, we lost some easy balls around our box, it’s impossible to win the games.
“I just want to be positive, to forget about this season. The new manager [Erik ten Hag] was in the stands, so that’s a good signal. I hope things will get better for next season – that’s the past already. We all know it’s been a bad season, for everyone.
“The people who don’t want to stay, just go, and the people who really want to stay at the club, who want to fight for the club, let’s have a good rest in the summer, prepare ourselves in the mind and the body and be ready to fight again next season.”
🗣 Our no.1 is already looking ahead to next season under Erik ten Hag 👇#MUFC | #CRYMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 22, 2022
In the 2021-2022 season, David de Gea made 46 appearances in all competitions in which he conceded 66 goals and kept just 10 clean sheets. The contract of the 31-year-old Spanish goalkeeper with Manchester United will expire on June 30, 2023.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have announced Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren as coach Erik ten Hag’s assistant coaches ahead of next season.
🔴 We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren as Erik ten Hag's assistant coaches.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 23, 2022
🤝 A warm welcome to them both! #MUFC
