It’s international break again, so that means the Spanish media will start spreading doubts about David de Gea and then if he’s not perfect when playing for his country, remark that he seems incredibly nervous and perhaps it’s time to give someone else a go.
In their Tuesday edition, Marca have a big article on the goalkeeper. They believe the Manchester United player is ‘living a double life’ between his club football and the Spanish national team.
They say that whilst he’s an ‘idol’ at Old Trafford, his position is ‘under constant debate’ with La Roja.
De Gea has looked nervous at times with Spain, but the country’s media have been falling over themselves to highlight any perceived failing, so there can be little wonder he feels under pressure when playing for his country.
The media approach is almost self fulfilling.
Manchester United is described as the player’s ‘security zone’. He’s ‘more comfortable’ there than with Spain, and has become an ‘institution’. The ‘wall’ of the Red Devils is ‘questionable’ for La Roja.
Ricardo Lopez, a former United goalkeeper, backs up De Gea: “I do not think it’s true that there are two De Geas. What happens is that the scenario of the selection is different from that of Manchester United. For me, what happened at the World Cup was exaggerated. It is true that he failed for Portugal’s first goal, but in the rest I think he could not do more. They were almost all golazos or penalties.”
Stole Dimitrievski, who, *checks Wikipedia*, plays for Rayo Vallecano and Macedonia, disagrees: “I do not know what it can be, but it is clear that the De Gea we see every week at Manchester United is much safer than when playing with Spain. I see their matches in the Premier League and the feeling that I have is as if I were saying to the forwards throw everything you want, you are not going to score against me. But that does not happen to me when I see the games of the Spanish national team.”
Maybe, just maybe, De Gea may feel more comfortable with Spain if there wasn’t a media campaign against him every times he joins up with the squad, and if he wasn’t well aware that any perceived mistake would lead to calls for him to be replaced by Kepa.
