Mourinho proved right on De Gea's Man Utd strength that Ten Hag needs

11 October 2023 , 09:12

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Mourinho proved right on De Gea's Man Utd strength that Ten Hag needs

Jose Mourinho likes nothing more than to let the world know he was right about something - and now the former Manchester United manager's assessment of David de Gea might just be haunting Erik ten Hag.

After 11 years at Old Trafford, De Gea was released in the summer and is still without a club. In his place, Ten Hag brought in Andre Onana for £38.3million from Ajax, but the Cameroon international has struggled to adapt to life in England.

Having arrived with a reputation of a ball-playing keeper capable of passing out from the back, Onana was a much-hailed signing after helping Inter Milan to the Champions League final last season. Indeed, his perceived strengths mirrored what De Gea, who kept more top-flight clean sheets than any other top-flight keeper in the 2022/23 campaign, was often criticised for lacking.

However, it's been a nightmare start to life in England for Onana, amid a string of high-profile errors. And after a faltering display in the defeat to Galatasaray last Tuesday, his weak hand to Mathias Jensen's strike allowed Brentford to lead on Saturday, before Scott McTominay's late show rescued matters.

And amid concerns over his shot-stopping ability, Mourinho's assessment of the ex-Spanish international back in 2020 seems increasingly relevant: "Is he good? Yes, he's very good. David is much better on the line than coming out," he said. "I think in goal, his agility and technical level is second to none."

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Ten Hag could undoubtedly do right now with a keeper exuding technical competence between the sticks. Indeed, calls are growing for Altay Bayindir to be given a first-team debut, having signed from Fenerbahce in the summer.

Jose Mourinho and David de Gea worked together at Manchester United (AFP via Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Erik ten Hag have got rid of David de Gea? Comment below.

Worth noting that the 'Special One' had more to say on his former stopper though. The then Tottenham boss also questioned the four-year contract given to De Gea, 32, back in 2019, worth staggering £375,000-per-week.

"I don't see the pressure. Who is going to pay David these numbers?" he sniped. "(De Gea) gets a phenomenal contract in a moment where he's a bit lucky to get it."

De Gea left United as their seventh all-time appearance maker, having played in 545 games in all competitions for the club. But despite being linked with moves back to Spain and Saudi Arabia, he remains in wilderness since being released.

Fraser Watson