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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

David de Gea's explanation for Everton blunder as Man Utd teammate takes blame

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea told his team-mates he 'did not expect the ball to go through his legs' after his embarrassing error during the FA Cup third round win over Everton.

The Red Devils ran out 3-1 winners at Old Trafford and while they were worthy of the victory, the Toffees briefly silenced the home faithful when they equalised via Conor Coady following De Gea's blunder.

The Spanish shot-stopper somehow allowed Neal Maupay's cross to squirm through his legs before Coady bundled the ball over the line.

De Gea still had his hand on the goal-post by the time the Everton defender had capitalised on his mistake. After the game, fellow United star Diogo Dalot opened up on discussions with the goalkeeper inside the dressing room a half-time.

"I spoke to David at half-time and he was not expecting the ball to go through his legs, even I was not expecting the ball to go through his legs, so I will take responsibility, I could have reacted a little bit quicker," Dalot told beIN Sports.

"Credit also to the Everton player [Coady] who reacted quicker than me. I think it's just things for us to learn, luckily we won with merit and we fight to score one more goal and I think we deserved to go through."

Dalot certainly took a more sympathetic approach than that of United legend Roy Keane, who was scathing in his assessment of the Red Devils number one.

David de Gea allowed the ball to squirm through his legs for Everton's goal (ITV)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Is De Gea nearing the end of his time as United's first-choice goalkeeper? Comment below

"It's a shocking mistake from an international goalkeeper," said the Irishman on ITV.

"De Gea there is like Carry On football. He looks like he's had a few drinks. It's a shocking mistake.

"It's almost like a 'keeper has been sent off and an outfield player has gone in goal and he doesn't know what to do. It's a horrendous mistake."

This isn't the first time Keane has destroyed De Gea in the media, back in 2020, when United were under the reign of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former United midfielder remarkably claimed he'd have attacked the 'keeper if he was in the dressing room with him.

"And I am sick to death of this goalkeeper. I would be flying in at halftime. I would be swinging punches at that guy.

"This is a standard save for a standard, international goalkeeper. I am flabbergasted. There's got to be some stuff going on at half-time. If I was Ole, I'd make some changes. Get some lads off the pitch."

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