Man United boss confirms his first-choice goalkeeper for Basel clash

De Gea MUFC

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed David de Gea will feature between the sticks when the Red Devils entertain Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Spain international played no part in the club’s Europa League campaign last season with Sergio Romero preferred for the number one role through the competition.

Speaking to reporters prior to the Basel game, Mourinho confirmed that De Gea will get the nod for Champions League duties owing to his impressive form since the start of the campaign.

“I do what I think is the best for the team. I don’t like that clear separation of ‘I play in this competition and you play in this competition’. And I think in this moment, David is playing very well and is very confident. I will go with David tomorrow again,” he said h/t the club’s official website.

De Gea kept consecutive clean sheets in the first three games of the Premier League season before conceding in the 2-2 draw against Stoke City. The Spaniard made a point-blank save in the second half of the Potters’ game, and it eventually proved crucial to the overall result.

Meanwhile, Mourinho revealed that he had the plan to feature Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling in the Champions League regardless of the European suspension to first-choice centre-backs Eric Bailly and Phil Jones.

“They are all at the same level so it is no problem at all. Even if Jones and Bailly were not suspended, I would probably play Smalling and Lindelof. For Lindelof, I think the competition is easier to adapt to because he is used to playing in the Champions League,” he told MUTV.

Mourinho is confident that the pair will come up triumphs against Basel with Lindelof used to playing Champions League football during his time with Portuguese champions Benfica.




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