Jose Mourinho says De Gea errors prove he was 'lucky' to land huge Man Utd deal

David de Gea's errors this season have shown he was "lucky" to land a bumper Manchester United contract last year, says Jose Mourinho.

De Gea's blunders cost United an FA Cup final place d as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in Sunday's last-four clash.


The keeper's gaffes, which led to goals for Oliver Giroud and Mason Mount, were the latest in an error-strewn season from the once imperious Red Devils No1.

Last month, United legend Roy Keane said he would have been "swinging punches" at De Gea over the way he conceded against Tottenham's Steven Bergwijn, insisting he wouldn't have allowed the keeper to get on the team bus back to Manchester.


And yet, less than a year ago, De Gea signed a bumper new deal which is set to keep him at Old Trafford until at least June 2023.


The Spain international was once regarded as the world's best keeper, and is the highest-paid stopper in the world on a staggering £375,000-per-week.

Tottenham boss Mourinho, who managed De Gea at United, says the 29-year-old is still a "very good" goalkeeper, but believes he got "lucky" with the four-year deal.

"De Gea? I think the moment when he signed his huge contract, is the moment I don't think United needs to pay as much as that to have him," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

"One or two years ago he had the world after him, in this moment, the majority of the big doors were closed.


"The Real Madrid door is closed, they don't need a goalkeeper after [Thibaut] Courtois.

" Barcelona is closed with young and fantastic [Marc-Andre] ter Stegen and Paris Saint-Germain is closed too as they signed Keylor Navas who is a very good goalkeeper."

Mourinho added: "I don't see the pressure. Who is going to pay David these numbers? (De Gea) gets a phenomenal contract in a moment where he's a bit lucky to get it. Is he good? Yes, he's very good.

"David is much better on the line than coming out. I think in goal, his agility and technical level is second to none."


De Gea is under pressure from Dean Henderson, who has impressed on loan at Sheffield United this season and is being groomed as the Spaniard's successor.

And former United man Phil Neville says the club's current No1 has "lost his confidence".

Neville, who won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League with United, said of De Gea: "He's unrecognisable from the player who won four player of the year [awards] in five years.

"He keeps making mistakes. You look at the three goals today – I think a confident, on form, assured De Gea saves all three.


"If I was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer I would be worried because his performance levels have dipped and he's inconsistent now.

"His credentials are still up there with the best in the world but at the moment he's just lost all his confidence."

However, Neville doesn't think De Gea's latest blunders will cost him his place in the United side, even with Henderson knocking at the door.
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"I wouldn't leave him out," said Neville. "[Solskjaer] already stated that Dean Henderson will be a future United No1, but at the moment he will stick with De Gea."