Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has said that he would have expected goalkeeper David de Gea to have saved Nemanja Matic’s match winning volley if he had been in Crystal Palace’s goal instead of Wayne Hennessey.
Matic’s stunning injury time volley gave Jose Mourinho’s side a 3-2 win over the Eagles at Selhurst Park that keeps United in second place ahead of Liverpool.
The Serbian midfielder drilled the ball on the half volley past Hennessey and into the back of the net.
Hennessey seemingly did not stand much of a chance of stopping the blistering strike, however, Neville said if it had have been de Gea in goal instead of Hennessey, he would have expected the Spanish international to save the volley.
“The standard of goalkeeper he is, he would have been massively disappointed if that had gone in,” said Neville of de Gea’s reflex save to deny Christian Benteke.
“If the Matic goal had went in his net, I would have been disappointed if he didn’t save it. That’s the level of de Gea and it’s why I think comparing him to Hennessey is unfair because I think de Gea would have saved the shot down the other end.
“But that’s just him. He’s a world class goalkeeper.”
de Gea’s current contract runs out in 18 months but United are keen to retain his services until 2021. Although Madrid are said to still be interested, Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois now seems a more likely candidate for them. They have also been linked with Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC Milan’s 18-year-old keeper.
