Dave Always Saves

In our professional lives, we have a lot of people who are extremely vocal but don’t offer the best outputs. Therefore, it is always a privilege to come across somebody who represents maximum efficiency and minimum fuss. When you look at Manchester United over the years, Paul Scholes was the epitome of the above mentioned values. David De Gea the man who recently completed a 100 clean sheets, has today taken over that mantel.

I used to idolize Scholes growing up, firstly no one ever came close to his abilities on the football pitch and his ability to disconnect off the pitch was something to be admired. Being a Manchester United player was all he cared about and boy, was he a damn fine one at that. De Gea is quite similar in this regard. He is the best on the pitch and arguably in the world at what he does, yet you will never hear much about what he does off the pitch – in this day and age. Someone recently pointed out to me that De Gea is the most boring united player to follow online as he rarely gives any insight into his personal life. Surely, that can’t be a bad thing, he is a footballer who knows how to keep his private life…private.

I am more than happy to punch anyone who dares to compare Scholes with another player, and in recent years I fume when anyone brings up a comparison of De Gea with another player. These two are one of a kind and even comparing them to other players is an insult to their abilities.

For a player who was ridiculed so much during his early days, De Gea has shown the fight and gumption expected of a top Manchester United player. Yes, one day he might leave for Madrid, but it will be impossible to point out to a single game where he hasn’t given it his all. In recent years, the tag of the best keeper in the world has been bestowed on the World Cup winning goalkeeper – Buffon, Casillas, Neuer. But, as of today there is no better keeper in the world than David De Gea. He is the best shot stopper in the world, no one manages their penalty box better than and no one distributes better than him. Yes, and when needed he shows the world he can be a damn fine sweeper keeper too.

There is something so endearing about a professional at the top of his game and yet willing to knuckle down, stay focused and work hard for the good of the team. In United’s darkest years of the modern era, he has been our knight in shining armor. There would have been times he must have felt that he deserves better than what Manchester United had to offer on the pitch, but he didn’t crib, he stayed, he saved – for Dave Always Saves.