The Atletico Madrid clash will also hold a huge significance to one of United’s top performers this season - David De Gea, who will be returning to his birthplace.
Follow Us
Manchester United have a tough assignment on Wednesday in the Champions League when they take on Atletico Madrid in the round-of-16 first-leg clash. The match will see the Premier League giants traveling to the home of the defending La Liga champions. It is undoubtedly one of the fixtures to watch out for in the last-16 round of games. The match will also hold a huge significance to one of United’s top performers this season – David De Gea, who will be returning to his birthplace. The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who began his career with the Spanish side, will come up against them for the first time since leaving Madrid in 2011. Ahead of the mouth-watering tie in Europe’s premier competition, De Gea opened up to UEFA about his return to the Spanish capital and what Manchester means to him now.
“I like the fact I was born in Madrid,” said the Spaniard. “But, at the end of the day, it’s just a city. Now I feel as if I’m from Manchester, I just feel like anyone else from Manchester. Where you are loved and welcomed is your home. I’ve been here many years and, obviously, anything can happen in life, in the world of football. But, honestly, I don’t see myself away from Manchester United.”
When De Gea travels to Madrid for the midweek match, he has only one intention and that is to be successful on his return to the club where he made his senior debut. He also won the Europa League with them in 2009/10.
READ MORE – Manchester United prevail in tough conditions against Leeds United
He said: “Of course I’m going back home, to the club that gave me the opportunity to be who I am today. But this is just another match. Everyone is going there to win, especially me.”
De Gea, who was aged just 19 when he broke through at Atletico Madrid, stated that he will always be grateful to Quique Sanchez Flores for putting his faith in him. “When Quique [Sanchez Flores] arrived, the team changed,” said De Gea. “There was a moment when [Sergio Asenjo] and I were both available, and he chose me.
“I played nearly every game. We made it to the final of the Europa League, and we won it. We also made it to the final of the Copa Del Rey and then we won the UEFA Super Cup against that great Inter side.”
Among De Gea’s many skills, his ability to repel shots with his feet has been one of his noteworthy features. He can also distribute the ball effectively from the back to start a quick counter-attack. “What a goalkeeper has to do is stop goals going in,” he asserted. “That’s the most important thing.”
“If you have the talent or the quality to be able to play with your feet and have good vision, that’s phenomenal. I feel very comfortable playing with my feet, playing out from the back, but [whether I play out from the back] depends on the coach and the style of play.”
Manchester City vs Liverpool: Talking points from the action-packed draw
