David de Gea has equalled Peter Schmeichel’s record tally of clean sheets for Manchester United after putting in a fantastic performance against Leicester City.
United picked up a valuable three points with a commanding 3-0 win over Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Two goals from Marcus Rashford and one from Jadon Sancho saw them climb to within three points of rivals Manchester City.
But their victory did not look so assured early on, with De Gea called into action on two occasions to keep out Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho. The Spaniard’s reaction stops were impressive and saw him create a piece of United history in the process.
The clean sheet was De Gea’s 180th in his 520th appearance for the club, with 564 goals conceded altogether. That tally is the same as the legendary Schmeichel, who kept 180 clean sheets in 386 appearances while playing for the club between 1991 and 1999.
De Gea joined United from Atletico Madrid back in June 2011 for a fee of £18.9million when he was just 20 years old. Now 32, he has been a near ever-present for the club over the past 12 years, helping them win the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League.
After seeing off competition from Dean Henderson, who was sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest, he has played every minute of United’s 24 Premier League games this season.
The landmark is just the latest in a series for the Spanish goalkeeper, who became the first non-British player to make 400 appearances for one club last month. He is the 10th-highest appearance-maker in United’s history, behind only club legends such as Ryan Giggs, Bobby Charlton, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes.
However, De Gea’s long-term future at the club remains in doubt, with his current contract due to expire at the end of the season. He is one of the club’s highest earners, meaning a renewal has not been straightforward.
"We’re still talking. I’m just focused on the game, that’s the most important thing, but for sure it’s going to end in a good way," he said last month when asked about the negotiations.
“I've been in very tough moments for this club. Now I'm enjoying it more. Everyone is thinking in the same way, playing in the same way. The team spirit is great from everyone, everyone fights until the end, and everyone is ready from the bench to perform well. It’s great to watch the team playing and performing well."
