Manchester United

Rio Ferdinand defends under-fire David de Gea

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 05 March 2020

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand insists that David de Gea should remain the club's undisputed number one goalkeeper.

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has insisted that David de Gea deserves "a little bit of leeway" despite a mixed campaign between the sticks.

De Gea's levels have dropped over the last 12 months or so, and the Spaniard made a huge mistake against Everton in the Premier League last weekend when his clearance was closed down by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Ferdinand was asked ahead of Thursday's FA Cup clash with Derby County whether Sergio Romero deserved a run in the side, but the former centre-back said that De Gea "is the outright number one".

"I think David de Gea is the outright number one due to what he has done in the last four or five years," Ferdinand told BT Sport. "Yes, he's made some mistakes this season but when you've performed so well over those years, you deserve a little bit of leeway. That was a bad mistake (vs Everton).

"It's not a situation where you say, 'you're on the bench and Romero is in'. Not at all."

De Gea, who arrived at Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011, has only kept nine clean sheets in 31 appearances during the 2019-20 campaign.