David de Gea says Man Utd ‘can beat’ Man City ahead of FA Cup final, after standout game vs Brighton

David de Gea has insisted his side are still hungry for more success after Manchester United defeated Brighton (0-0 AET 7-6 on penalties) to advance to the final of the FA Cup. 

The Spanish goalkeeper was a standout performer during the match, denying a threatening Brighton side on multiple occasions to keep the score level at 0-0 through 120 minutes of football. 

It was a very close game, and after the match, the shot-stopper lauded Roberto De Zerbi‘s side before admitting his team-mates took the ‘perfect penalties’. 

‘It was a very tight game,’ he told BBC after the match. ‘We played against a really good team.

‘We had prepared for penalties as always, I tried to put pressure on the takers. We took perfect penalties.

David de Gea was a standout performer during Manchester United’s FA Cup win vs Brighton

It’s been a rollercoaster of a week for the United No 1, who was criticised for his performance in midweek, as the Red Devils crashed out of the Europa League following their 3-0 (5-2 aggregate) loss to Sevilla.

Yet, the 32-year-old, who currently has the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season (14), was United’s saving grace in goal today, stopping several dangerous chances, including a late attempt from Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, injuring himself in the process. 

While he, nor his opposite number, Robert Sanchez, could make a save during the shootout, it was certainly an exhibition of excellent goalkeeping, with his heroics helping United to advance to the FA Cup final. 

They will now take on their rivals, Manchester City on June 3, in what will be the first time in the history of the competition that the pair will have met in the final. 

While it will be a massive occasion, De Gea admitted that his side ‘have already shown they can beat’ their city rivals and were still hungry to fight for more trophies. 

‘We are in another final, but we have another big game on Thursday (at Tottenham), so now we have to go home for recovery and prepare again.

‘There is still a long way to go to the final. I am sure it is going to be a big game against one of the best teams in Europe, but we have shown already that we can beat them.

‘We already have one trophy, are in another final and going for the top four. Of course that is not enough, but it is a great step from last season. We keep improving. We have big games coming and have to be ready.’

 ‘Of course that is not enough’: David de Gea insists his side are hungry for more despite ‘already having one trophy, are in another final and are going for the top four’ and insists his side’

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