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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Tyrone Marshall

David de Gea responds to Dean Henderson's controversial Manchester United goalkeeper comments

David de Gea insists he is focusing on his role at Manchester United after Dean Henderson had been critical of his treatment by the club last season.

Henderson said he was "fuming" that United went back on a decision to make him their first-choice goalkeeper last season and that it was "criminal" he wasted a season sitting on the bench. De Gea started last season as No. 1 goalkeeper after Henderson contracted Covid in the summer of 2021 and the Spaniard's form meant he kept his place in the side.

Henderson started just three games in cup competitions last term, but has shone since joining Nottingham Forest on loan for the season, saving two penalties.

READ MORE: United issue injury update on Rashford

The 25-year-old is due back at Old Trafford next summer when Erik ten Hag will have a decision to make on his first-choice goalkeeper. But De Gea is focusing on his own role this season and refused to respond to Henderson's comments.

"I have to do my job, to try to be better every day. I don’t think it’s the time to talk about our team and what happened last season, we should be more focused on the season now. I have no comments about that," he said.

De Gea will start for United in Moldova tomorrow, when they face Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League. Having been beaten by Real Sociedad on matchday one they need a win in a competition De Gea has already won with United, although he missed the decisive penalty in the final against Villarreal two years ago.

The Spaniard also admits that he would rather be playing in the Champions League, but is now determined to do his best in Europe's second-tier competition.

"It’s a great competition, of course in my opinion we should be playing Champions League, but this is a competition we have to play for, we will go with everything, I have very good memories of this competition," said De Gea.

"We lost the first one so we have to try to win the game tomorrow against a difficult team. For sure it’s a special competition."

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