Johannesburg: Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea was ecstatic to make an ‘important’ save during his side’s goalless stalemate against Sevilla in their Champions League clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium last evening.
The 27-year-old made eight saves in the match, with two superb stops from Sevilla’s duo of Steven N’Zonzi and Muriel at the end of the first half.
The Spaniard displayed all his class as he reacted brilliantly to a headed attempt from Muriel from point-blank range to deny Sevilla take a lead in the first leg of the last-16 clash.
De Gea, although, expressed his delight to make an important save during the game, he also admitted that Vincenzo Montella’s side deserved more.
“We defended well but I think they had control of the ball. They played really well but the game is still open and we have to play the second leg at Old Trafford. It [the save] was in the last minute of the first half, so it was an important moment in the game. I made a save, I’m happy for that,” Sport24 quoted De Gea, as saying.
Following the match, former United defender Rio Ferdinand dubbed De Gea as the ‘best outright goalkeeper in the world’.
“Outright the best goalkeeper in the world. The great goalkeepers don’t have to make saves every 10 minutes. He has that concentration in abundance. The reflexes, the speed is just phenomenal and breath-taking,” Ferdinand said.
United will now play the second leg of the last-16 round against Sevilla at the Old Trafford on March 14. (ANI)