David de Gea appears to have revived his flatlining Manchester United career after a stellar start to the season continued against Villarreal in the Champions League.
It is fitting De Gea's best performance of the campaign came against the same opposition that dealt his biggest blow as United keeper at the tail-end of last term in the Europa League final.
The Yellow Submarine toppled Man Utd in a dramatic penalty shootout that saw 21 out of 22 players score, De Gea the guilty party who saw his effort saved - though he faced sterner criticism for not saving any of the 11 Villarreal attempts.
Having clearly put that demon to bed, De Gea was a thorn in the side of the La Liga outfit on Wednesday evening, keeping United in the tie after a first-half that should have ended with Villarreal at least one goal in front.
United, boosted by the heroics of De Hea between the sticks, went on to win the tie 2-1, bouncing back from Paco Alcacer's second half-strike courtesy of goals from Alex Telles and a Cristiano Ronaldo stoppage time winner.
The form De Gea has shown this season may very well have extended his stay at Old Trafford after it appeared he was set to lose his number one spot to Dean Henderson.
Henderson ended last term as on league duties, while De Gea was demoted to cup competitions, but the latter has seen a return to form while the former has only just returned from an injury that kept him out of Euro 2020.
Former Sheffield United loanee Henderson could only watch on from the substitutes bench, with fellow back-up 'keeper Tom Heaton, while De Gea made six saves across the 95 minutes.
After the full-time whistle, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise on the Spanish shot-stopper, even dubbing him the best 'keeper on the planet.
"Thankfully we had the best goalkeeper in the world tonight," Solskjaer claimed in his post-match presser. "David was fantastic. Second-half, they had more of the ball, it was open and they deserved to lead.
"[De Gea] had a difficult summer. He went to the Euros and didn't play there, but he's really come back with a determination, a work rate, that I enjoy. Again, he got a deserved outcome.
"He saved us tonight. We have to be realistic and say that we've got two good keepers in Tom [Heaton] and Dean [Henderson], but today David deserves Man of the Match."
The praise for De Gea represents a drastic change in the goalkeeping landscape at Old Trafford, where just months ago Solskjaer seemed indecisive over who to make his number one.
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Speaking in April, Solskajer said: "With Dean and David's situation, I know it’s something that will create headlines and [is] fish and chip wrapping paper in a little while, but I've got two great goalkeepers and it’s about now finding games both will play.
"Obviously not the same game, of course. But both of them deserve to play more than what they do and it’s a decision I have to make every time."
He went on to famously claim he boasted "two number ones", but last night's comments are the clearest indicator yet that he has just one - De Gea putting daylight between Henderson and himself.
