De Gea: Being Dropped Helped Me

David de Gea has enjoyed some good form after getting his place in the first team back following an injury to Anders Lindegaard, who had replaced him in the starting XI.

The media became fixated with every mistake the younger keeper made, blowing them all out of proportion, but de Gea claims this only served to make him a better player.

“I did receive one or two bits of criticism at the start of the season,” said De Gea. “But it only served to make me a stronger person. It encouraged me to keep fighting and keep working hard. The important thing is not to let yourself get down because you can turn it around. Through hard work, I have waited for my chance and grabbed it. Fortunately now I am showing some good form. I hope this can continue right the way through until the end of the campaign. The time I spent on the bench helped me to reflect and think hard. It allowed me to regroup and made me more determined.”

Sir Alex Ferguson has said he wants David to put on a stone to help him bulk up to deal with the more physical aspect of the league. De Gea doesn’t think the English league is too different to Spain but claims the referees give goalies more protection in La Liga.

“The leagues are not too dissimilar in their style but English football is a little bit more physical and maybe a bit more aggressive,” he continued. “The challenges you face up to are tougher and referees let play go on more here than they do in Spain.”