MX23RW : Thursday, July 9 09:05:23| >> :60:466:466:
Jun 19, 2020 at 8.15pm UK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
SpursTottenham Hotspur
1-1
Man UtdManchester United
Bergwijn (27')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Fernandes (81' pen.)
James (41')

Gary Neville: 'David De Gea should go back to basics'

Gary Neville: 'David De Gea should go back to basics'
© Reuters
Manchester United goalkeeper was criticised for Tottenham's goal in Friday's Premier League match.

David De Gea needs to change his approach to “stop the erosion” of his form and confidence, according for former Manchester United defender Gary Neville.

The Spain international goalkeeper was heavily criticised for not keeping out Steven Bergwijn’s strike in Friday night’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Tottenham.

Roy Keane, another ex-United captain, fumed at De Gea during the half-time analysis of the game on Sky Sports.

Steven Bergwijn's effort gave Spurs the lead in the 1-1 draw.
Steven Bergwijn’s effort gave Spurs the lead in the 1-1 draw. (Shaun Botterill/NMC Pool)

Neville has now suggested De Gea’s performances have been off for some time and believes put in the hard miles may be the answer to getting back to his best.

“He’s got to go back to basics,” he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.

“There’s only one thing you can do when you’re having a tough time: work. Work harder than you have ever done in your life.

“He has to do something to stop the erosion. Mistakes like that can happen on the first game back but it’s happening far too much over the past couple of years.

“He was the one player United could rely upon for the last four years but he’s not the same.”

Bergwijn had given Spurs the lead after 27 minutes with a shot that was hit straight at De Gea but struck the goalkeeper on the arm before diverting into the net.

Keane, who also singled out United defender Harry Maguire for criticism for his part in the goal, said the pair should “hang their heads in shame” and that he would have been “swinging punches” at De Gea for failing to keep the shot out.

Neville added that he feels it could be a mentality issue for De Gea, who has been United’s number one since singing in 2011.

“He’s making lots of mistakes,” added Neville. “Ones he would never make – he was always somebody you could completely rely upon.

“It can only be a confidence thing. The arms, legs and body are the same – it’s got to be the mind.”

ID:403360:

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Manchester CityMan City34223986345269
3Chelsea341861063461760
4Leicester CityLeicester34178964323259
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd331510856332355
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34131384537852
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd34131293533251
8Arsenal34121485042850
9Burnley34147133846-849
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs33139115244848
11Everton33128134048-844
12Southampton33134164255-1343
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341110133550-1543
14Crystal Palace34119143043-1342
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton34812143647-1136
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3487194059-1931
17Watford34710173153-2231
18Aston Villa3376203662-2627
19Bournemouth3376203259-2727
20Norwich CityNorwich3456232663-3721

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