West Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has singled out Manchester United stars David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo for high praise ahead of this afternoon’s Premier League game at Old Trafford.
The 37-year-old starts in goal for David Moyes’ Hammers and the Poland international will be hoping to frustrate the likes of Ronaldo with an inspired goalkeeping performance.
Fabianski faced Ronaldo at the Theatre of Dreams 13 years ago when he was in goal for Arsenal, but he didn’t face the five-time Ballon d’Or winner at Old Trafford back in January when Marcus Rashford tapped home an injury time winner.
Ronaldo did score against Fabianski at the London Stadium last September when he prodded from inside six yards after West Ham’s number one saved his earlier headed effort.
Fabianski singles out two Manchester United stars for high praise
Despite being in and out of Erik ten Hag’s Premier League side, Fabianksi is under no illusion that United’s number seven remains a formidable force, and he won’t be taking him lightly.
Speaking to The Mail, the former Swansea City stopper said: “I see him still as a great player who has proven so many times over so many years that he has great qualities to score goals.
“When he’s on the pitch, I will not judge him as someone in a different moment of his career than he was back then. He’s still a player that can score goals, so I respect him.”
Fabianksi also has a ton of respect for United’s number one De Gea who has racked up over 500 appearances for the twenty-time league champions.
But the former Atletico Madrid youngster has not been included in Spain’s 55-man provisional World Cup squad as Luis Enrique overlooked the 31-year-old.
But Fabianksi is in no doubt that De Gea is one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history and labelled the man whose contract at Old Trafford expires in June as “pure quality”.
“He is pure quality,” says Fabianski.
“He has shown it many, many times. To play at a very consistent level for so many years. It’s over 10 years has been here. He had few difficult spells but in general he’s been great, amazing. In my eyes he is one of the best in the history of the Premier League.”
Manchester United have the option of extending De Gea’s contract by a further year inserted in his deal.
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