Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea believes good preparation and recovery is key to navigating another hectic month.
United have nine games across three competitions in April, kicking off with Sunday's trip to Newcastle for the first of their 12 remaining Premier League games. Erik ten Hag's side will also have cup action to contend with, facing Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final after both legs of their Europa League quarter-final clash with Sevilla.
De Gea will likely be an ever-present between the posts, having played in 42 of United's 46 games so far this season and with Tom Heaton unavailable due to injury. And the 32-year-old knows the importance of optimising the days between games in order to maintain momentum.
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“We have massive games coming,” De Gea told United's in-house media this week. “We have a couple of competitions where we’re close to being in the final, so it’s great again and we have to be sure that we finish in the top four as well. It’s massive for the club and for us.
“Nine games in one month is a lot, I think we’re playing a lot of games, but that’s football right now. We have to prepare the games as best we can and recover well, because we don’t have many games between them. Hopefully, we can keep winning and enjoy what we’re doing this season.”
Second-choice goalkeeper Heaton confirmed earlier this week that he will be unavailable for a short period due to an ankle injury, but the former Burnley man hopes to be back to support De Gea for the FA Cup as he hunts for more silverware.
“I’m hoping to be back in amongst it by then,” Heaton said. “But I think you’re right: a semi-final trip to Wembley, the focus will be on getting to the final. We know it’s a tough game and they’re a very good side, so that will be the thought process at that moment in time.
“But I think, as David mentioned, there are so many games at this moment and we’re fighting on a few fronts, which is exactly where we want to be at Manchester United. I think it's important we don't get ahead of ourselves and too far in front of it. It’s one game at a time and the next one coming is Newcastle, so it'll be all eyes on that.”
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