Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea came in for criticism from an unusual source this week.
While Manchester City were busy winning the Champions League against Internazionale, their boss Pep Guardiola took some time out to mention the Spanish goalkeeper.
Asked about their opponent Inter Milan’s playing style before the final, City boss Guardiola mentioned De Gea and United playing long balls from the back.
“The back five [for Inter] are wide, when you make a switch of play it’s more difficult to get it, with five it’s more difficult,” Guardiola said.
“Inter is not just the strikers and five at the back – the keeper for a long time we didn’t see something like this with Onana.
“It’s difficult when you have that keeper to high press properly. If you are man-to-man they link to the striker with [Romelu] Lukaku, Lautaro [Martinez] and [Edin] Dzeko, they are masters of keeping the ball.
“With United, for example, it’s long ball, with Rashford and the other one, they don’t keep it. These guys [Inter] they keep it. And after they link it they run. That’s why you’ve got to think about what to do.
“With the ball, wow, they [Inter] are really, really, really good, that is why they are in the Champions League final.”
