Schmeichel gives verdict on David de Gea’s Manchester United FA Cup display

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Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel was full of praise for David de Gea after the goalkeeper bounced back from his Sevilla nightmare with a fine display in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Wembley.

Ok, De Gea might not be Ederson Moraes with the ball at his feet. He might not command his penalty box like Alisson Becker. But, when it comes to making rapid-fire reaction saves, there are few better anywhere in world football. Let alone the Premier League.

De Gea rolled back the years early in the second half against Roberto de Zerbi’s brilliant Brighton, tipping a fierce Julio Enciso volley over the crossbar. That was one of a number of key saves the Spaniard pulled off at Wembley.

Putting that Europa League humiliation behind him as Erik ten Hag’s side kept their hopes of a domestic double alive.

David De Gea impresses at Wembley as Man United reach FA Cup final

“I think that is a sign of a really good goalkeeper,” Schmeichel, part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s iconic 1999 treble-winning side, tells the BBC.

“You cannot play as long (as De Gea has) as a goalkeeper without making mistakes. Unfortunately for him, a few came in the same game (against Sevilla).

“That put the spotlight on him for this game here today. But he’s come out and played really, really good. I think without David De Gea in goal, Brighton would have won this game comfortably.”

That is not to say De Gea’s opposite number – Robert Sanchez – could have brought his Sudoku book to Wembley. Manchester United kept him busy too during a tense 120 minute semi-final; Sanchez’s outstanding save to deny a deflected Marcus Rashford effort arguably even better than the one De Gea made to keep out Enciso at the other end.

United will now take on Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and co in the FA Cup’s first ever Manchester Derby final on June 3^rd.

“I was very impressed with him,” Ten Hag adds of De Gea. “He made some brilliant saves.

“It hurt when he made mistakes on Thursday. Often when you make mistakes as a keeper you get punished. We let him down, we didn’t fight back for him. We bounced back today though.”