Despite a howler right up there with Lorus Karius’ best, Spain and Manchester United keeper David de Gea has brushed off his mistake in the clash with Portugal at the World Cup on Friday that gifted a second goal to Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I was late to put my knee down and the ball was screwed up,” said the 27-year-old.
“I’m calm. It’s a mistake that can happen, It was a difficult ball, I’ll keep training and try to do things right. I haven’t killed anyone.
“Football is like that, things can happen. They’re mistakes, those who put the gloves on and go out on the field know how difficult it is.”
Madrid-born De Gea then put in an advance strike against any criticism his error might bring him, while seeming to attack Spain’s own fans.
No se trata de no equivocarse,
— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) June 16, 2018
se trata de no rendirse nunca.
It's not about never failing,
it's about never giving up.
En mi equipo siempre, @D_DeGea
Always on my team.
¡Seguimos! / Let's keep it up.#VamosEspaña 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/SNizXiBW1Y
“I like that there are criticisms,” said De Gea cryptically.
“Diego Costa has also been criticised and he scored two goals.
“I would have liked that they defend me more in a difficult moment in my life, with an issue from outside the game.
“I don’t see much that they support me from Spain. My own criticism is bad enough.
“Football is like this, if you make a mistake you’re very bad, if you play well you’re very good. You have to get up.”
I think Iceland's goalkeeper swapped souls with David De gea.#WorldCup #ARGISL pic.twitter.com/UanNRgETnn
— THE_EAGLE™🦅🇳🇬 (@iamthe_eagle) June 16, 2018
De Gea then vowed to keep working and be ready for Spain’s next match, now a must win fixture against Iran on Wednesday.
“I’ll keep training and doing things well,” he stated, “we have an important game against Iran and if we win it will be an important step to qualification.”
“In the end we’ve drawn, not lost, the reaction was great. There it is, it’s happened.
“I count on the support of the coach and my colleagues to continue. The coach is with me, with all of the team,
“We had a good game, I’m happy with the team’s reaction, I think we deserved more.”
Spain’s new coach Fernando Hierro has other goal-keeping options in his squad with Napoli veteran Pepe Reina and youngster Athletic Bilbao youngster Kepa Arrizabalaga.
➡️Friday: Ronaldo scores a hat-trick against the best goalkeeper in the world - David De Gea 👏
— BlameFootball (@blamefootball) June 16, 2018
➡️Saturday: Messi misses from 12 yards against a 34-year-old film director - Hannes Þór Halldórsson 😳 pic.twitter.com/rMnIVHZTky
De Gea did have one supporter – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho who is currently in Russia as a commentator who leapt to his defence.
“It’s my boy. It hurts me to say it, but he knows. He knows it’s a bad mistake,” said the former Chelsea boss.
“It’s a mistake that he doesn’t make with us, with United. He was our Player of the Season, fantastic performances. But that happens to the best.
“The good thing with the best is that in the next match he’ll be there, not afraid. Confident to go and ready to help the team. It is a goal with David’s face.”
De Gea will be out to prove Mourinho’s words accurate against Iran on Wednesday in Spain’s next outing.
OFFICIAL: 9 Manchester doctors have announced that David De Gea was concussed last night after Sergio Ramos squeezed his shoulder too tight during the national anthem.
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) June 16, 2018
Explains his mistake for the goal now. pic.twitter.com/SFNcZ5OzVu
