Ole Gunnar Solskjaer missed a trick here. Dean Henderson’s record of saving penalties is ridiculously better than David De Gea’s.
Yet while Villarreal were burying all of their spot-kicks beyond De Gea in last night’s shootout, Henderson was watching on from the sidelines.
Louis van Gaal replaced Holland goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul in the 120th minute of their 2014 World Cup quarter final against Costa Rica. That worked out pretty well.
Solskjaer could have copied Van Gaal. It might have hurt De Gea’s feelings but it would have been for the good of the team. Unfortunately, Manchester United’s players ended up leaving with runners-up medals around their necks.
I feel for De Gea missing the ultimate spot-kick. He would have never expected it to come around to him. It takes balls to step up to that spot.
I participated in a few penalty shootouts with Celtic. It’s almost 20 years since Valencia knocked us out of the Europa League.
Poor Joos Valgaeren missed his first penalty, then a retake was ordered because the goalkeeper was off his line. Valgaeren took it again, and missed again. As he made his way back to the halfway line, he asked the referee if he could have a third go!
I can look back and laugh now – but it definitely wasn’t funny at the time. Henrik Larsson and Stilian Petrov missed theirs, too.
It’s about how you handle the pressure when that moment of truth comes. Sadly De Gea couldn’t make the heroic saves necessary and he couldn’t score when it was his turn.
Solskjaer will no doubt spend some time wondering whether he could have played this differently, and what might have happened if he had.
zisdekms
875
Hypocrite ppl ,if it was Henderson u will say why didn’t he bring de gea
cukelrty
556
why only blame De gea ...i guess he had never thought he has to take penalty shoot and other players are to be blame for not scoring ....but villareal might already had plan to take it penalty shootout and practised it frequently including keeper...
Francisebuka
458
Stupid club God will deal with all of you stupid set of players and coach.You already know that,that stupid goal keeper @d_degeaofficial is not good in penalties and you still left him in post.Just look at the performance of a world class goalkeeper in penalties. @d_degeaofficial you will remain in the bench for the rest of your career in @manchesterunited, they will not let you leave but your punishment will be at the bench for the rest of your career and as for the players each of everyone of you is never a winner,you don't have any single mentality to win the performance is very poor this club have a long way to go because what i saw this evening is a calamity
Wadbdkmpr
359
You cannot blame a keeper for your team losing in a penalty shootout. You cant also blame a keeper for missing as he is not supposed to be kicking. Maybe he couldve tried harder for a save or 2 but it can go either way in a shootout. Ole waited until almost the end of the game to make subs. How does a manager complain his team needs rest but then force them to olay almost 120 mins. Clearly rashford wasnt at his best and wasnt at his fittest. He even got hurt during the game and Ole stull didnt take him off. I said give Ole time but if that is how he is going to manage then he needs to go. How do you as a manager sit there and not see that you need fresh legs on the field. Not when the game is nearly done then bring them on for penalties.
halacr7madrid
281
the thing is I m sad because Manchester could have won the trophy but then u look at the preparation of Villarreal they knew that after 65 minutes that game is going in extra-time so they defended very well and then they tried to score in first 15 minutes of extra time they tried to score den they defended for 15 minutes and already they prepared for Penalty because if u see the penalty their GK went in right direction for nine times even though he was unable to save it but still it's shows that they practised it in training session as well and overall Villarreal was more hungry for title and it's not about big name because a fool with plan can beat a genius without plan
Vaocimy
12
Stupid club God will deal with all of you stupid set of players and coach.You already know that,that stupid goal keeper @d_degeaofficial is not good in penalties and you still left him in post.Just look at the performance of a world class goalkeeper in penalties. @d_degeaofficial you will remain in the bench for the rest of your career in @manchesterunited, they will not let you leave but your punishment will be at the bench for the rest of your career and as for the players each of everyone of you is never a winner,you don't have any single mentality to win the performance is very poor this club have a long way to go because what i saw this evening is a calamity
You talk a lot. How many soccer trophies have you won yourself? Talk is cheap!
Affancfceh10
8
Stupid club God will deal with all of you stupid set of players and coach.You already know that,that stupid goal keeper @d_degeaofficial is not good in penalties and you still left him in post.Just look at the performance of a world class goalkeeper in penalties. @d_degeaofficial you will remain in the bench for the rest of your career in @manchesterunited, they will not let you leave but your punishment will be at the bench for the rest of your career and as for the players each of everyone of you is never a winner,you don't have any single mentality to win the performance is very poor this club have a long way to go because what i saw this evening is a calamity
Roses are red Violets are blue if it wasn't for De Gea You'd be in League two.