Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has conceded his club’s Premier League title challenge is “impossible”.
The 20-time English league champions are currently eighth in the Premier League and already 18 points behind leaders Manchester City after 15 games.
Why is United’s title challenge impossible? Five key things to know…
- Having not won the league since 2013, Manchester United would have hoped to build on a second-place finish last season.
- But the Red Devils have been under par this year, already losing four games in the Premier League.
- By contrast, league leaders Manchester City have dropped just four points, are unbeaten and 18 points clear of United.
- As a result, De Gea believes United must now refocus their aim on finishing in the top four.
- United are currently eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
United are on a poor run of domestic form recently, without a win in their last four league games with one loss and three consecutive draws.
In their last game, a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford, De Gea came under the spotlight for the Gunners’ opening goal, fumbling a header into the back of the net.
As a result, the Spaniard has given up hope on the Premier League title, admitting it would be “impossible” for United to overturn the 18 point difference with Man City.
“It’s been a bad season so far for us to be honest,” he said, (via the Mirror).
“We’re in a poor league position. We’re Manchester United and we should be challenging for the title.
“We’re far behind and it’ll be impossible for us to win it, our aim is to qualify for the Champions League.”
De Gea isn’t the first person to admit United’s aim is now to finish in the top four, though manager Jose Mourinho also conceded it will be hard work.
He said: “I don’t think we need a miracle. We don’t need to waste points where we don’t need to waste.
“Before Palace, I said my target would be end of December in top four. Now the target has changed. Now we have to try to be very close to these positions. We need not to be so unlucky with problems that we have. We need some players to perform.”
United will be hoping to get their first league win since the start of November on Saturday when they face bottom of the league Fulham.
What has gone wrong at United?
There are many problems currently ongoing at United, from Mourinho reportedly clashing with the players, to strikers struggling to score goals.
But De Gea’s performances have not been up to his usual high standards, including Wednesday’s howler.
Last season in the Premier League, De Gea conceded 28 goals in 37 games keeping 18 clean sheets in that time. However, this year, the Spaniard has already let in 25, at a high average of 1.67 per 90 minutes with just the two clean sheets.
De Gea is also, on average, busier than he was last season facing 12.87 shots per game compared to 11.65. But, at the same time, the goalkeeper is not enjoying the save success rate he did last season, averaging 2.04 saves per goal conceded this season compared to 4.11 last campaign.
The post David De Gea unhappy with Man Utd season with title challenge now “impossible” appeared first on Squawka News.
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