De Gea feeling strong and confident ahead of Champions League opener

David de Gea has enjoyed the start of the season – with little competition for places between the sticks at Manchester United, with Dean Henderson missing after suffering with fatigue after contracting COVID-19 over the summer.

Dean Henderson completed his first appearance of the season in a defeat for the U23s against Arsenal, but he still wasn’t named for tomorrow’s Champions League opener against Young Boys.

Instead, alongside De Gea and Tom Heaton, academy goalkeeper Matej Kovar is the third choice goalkeeper to be included in the squad.

We named De Gea in our predicted XI to face Young Boys because it seems unnecessary to name Heaton ahead of the Spaniard for our opening matchday in the Champions League. The former youth team keeper is likely to make his first appearance for the club in the Carabao Cup.

“I feel very well,” De Gea told reporters, as per Manchester Evening News. “I feel strong, I feel confident. I’m very happy at the club with my teammates, the manager the staff. I will keep training giving my 100 per cent for everyone and do what I can for the team.”

Speaking about the competition for places at United — once Henderson returns to full fitness — De Gea added: “I’ve played here with many great goalkeepers and the fight between keepers we must always fight for our positions. United want to be ambitious and bring in the best players then we must fight for our positions.”

De Gea also spoke about the impact Cristiano Ronaldo is having since he returned to the club on deadline day.

“It’s great to have Cristiano back home. I think it shows from the first day the impact, he scored two very important goals and as you know the qualities. The experience of Cristiano is amazing, he’s a legend at the club already and it’s great to have him back. It’s massive for us.”

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