David de Gea will not be dropped by Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer against Chelsea on Sunday.
De Gea was culpable for both of Manchester City's goals in their 2-0 derby win at Old Trafford on Wednesday night and the Spaniard has been blameworthy for a number of goals in recent weeks.
Everton duo Gylfi Sigurdsson and Lucas Digne beat De Gea with ease on Sunday and De Gea committed a howler against Lionel Messi in the 3-0 humbling by Barcelona last week. De Gea was also blameworthy for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka's winner last month. The 28-year-old has not kept a clean sheet in 11 games and United have conceded 50 goals in a league season for the first time in 40 years.
Former United goalie Gary Bailey called for United number two Sergio Romero to replace De Gea for the crucial fixture with Chelsea but Solskjaer has no intention of changing in goal.
"No, not at all," Solskjaer said. "Because I trust David and he's - for me - been the best player United have had last six or seven years, absolutely outstanding. And going through touch patches is part of a footballer's career and David will be fine."
Solskjaer also refuted the suggestion protracted talks over a new long-term contract for De Gea had compromised his focus. That's something you have to deal with as a footballer, you don’t always have a contract for five or 10 years or three years. it's a situation, David's coming in every single day doing what he should be doing."
United have lost seven of their last nine - something which has not happened since 1962 - and Solskjaer described the trophyless campaign as an 'emotional' one.
"That's football for you, that's human beings for you, that's margins," Solskjaer added. "And of course we've played, some said easy teams in the beginning, and more difficult teams now but it's the whole scenario, the whole season. It's been an emotional season for players and club and that's what you've got to deal with as a footballer player, coach and manager, deal with human beings.
"You could see on Wednesday night there's a team that wants to play for each other and be there for each other, we weren't doing our jobs at Everton and it's a boy who was hurt, [Marcus] Rashy's really hurt by losing the derby, we all are.
"But the eye-opener was the Everton one and the last 10 days have been hard for everyone and you sometimes might come out emotional in an interview.
"But we know for this club to be successful we have to stick together 24/7 and your standards have to be at that level what we are doing for our teammates."
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