Manchester United Keeper David de Gea Reveals the Save That Turned Him Around

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea got off to a rough start this season. He struggled so mightily as the campaign began that the cry for his removal was near universal.

The keeper's form forced Sir Alex Ferguson to replace him in the starting lineup (at first occasionally, but then regularly during December and January) as the 21-year-old tried to gain his bearing in the Premier League.

But all that is long forgotten. While De Gea is still prone to the occasional gaffe, he has rebounded to turn in a very solid season.

For De Gea, his turnaround can be traced back to one save in early February.

United had gone down 3-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The second half was ticking on and things looked hopeless for the Red Devils. But they found a way back against all odds, netting three times in the final 35 minutes of the game.

Then in added time, Chelsea were awarded a free kick on the edge of the United area. Juan Mata lined things up and unleashed an inch-perfect curler toward the top corner of De Gea's goal. The young keeper raced across his line and laid out to get a hand to the ball and push it wide.

The save secured the point for United and maintained the momentum that allowed them to extend a then four-game unbeaten run into a 12-game streak.

For De Gea personally, the save meant even more.

"When you look back over a season there are lots of defining moments and key goals," De Gea was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "But... particularly from a personal point of view, the fact the save was right in the last minute was decisive. Possibly it gave me a huge confidence boost as well. From a personal perspective that was important."

The denial of Mata was decisive in Ferguson's thinking as well. Although De Gea had been relegated to the bench for most of the previous two months, the manager hasn't left him out since that February night at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard has rewarded Ferguson's faith with six clean sheets in the 10 Premier League matches United have played since that night.

If United are able to hold onto their current lead at the top of the table, De Gea's improved form will be a big reason why they are able to lift the EPL trophy at season's end.

The Red Devils are five points clear of Manchester City with four games remaining. They still have to face their pursuers in what could prove a decisive Manchester derby coming up on April 30th at the Etihad.