West Ham manager David Moyes could barely believe his eyes when Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea pulled off a stunning save to deny the Hammers a point.
Marcus Rashford's first-half header proved to be enough in the end as the Red Devils ran out 1-0 winners at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, but things could have been very different were it not for the form of their number one shot-stopper.
In the last knockings of the clash, West Ham defender Kurt Zouma must have thought he'd levelled things up when he connected well with Aaron Cresswell's shot but the Frenchman's effort was tipped wide by De Gea. In response, Hammers boss Moyes appeared to mutter: "What a f***ing save" in disbelief.
Just moments later, the United keeper was at it again as he parried Declan Rice's long-range strike over the bar. The standout performance comes at an ideal time for De Gea, who was only last week not named in Spain's provisional 55-man World Cup squad.
United manager Erik ten Hag waxed lyrcial over his goalkeeper come full-time, telling reporters: "If we don't manage it with the 10 outfield players on the pitch you can really see defending with 11 because we have a great goalkeeper. With great saves and composure you can rely on him."
Spain boss Luis Enrique has five goalkeepers he clearly views as a superior option to De Gea, including Brighton shot-stopper Robert Sanchez and David Raya of Brentford.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should De Gea have been named in the Spain side? Comment below
Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon is the current first-choice for La Roja, while Chelsea ’s Kepa Arrizabalaga has been restored to the squad – as well as Getafe’s David Soria.
Enrique discussed what he wanted from his goalkeepers earlier this year, with comments that felt particularly pointed towards De Gea as the national team manager seemed to focus on two areas the United keeper struggles with.
"I look to have three starting goalkeepers and I think that right now I have them,” he explained back in June.
"Honestly. I wouldn’t have an issue with any of the three of them starting. Unai has accumulated some interesting experience. A goalkeeper should start the play and generate the first superiority, they must dominate the aerial play.
"I need a goalkeeper that transmits peace and calmness to me, that doesn’t mean they won’t make mistakes, errors are part of football. What they generate I like a lot."
All De Gea can do from this point on is consistently produce performances like the one at home to the Hammers and hope Enrique reconsiders what he wants to see from his goalkeepers.
