Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously and accepting both of them.
The word is used throughout George Orwell's dystopian classic 1984. That novel is still relevant today and the word 'doublethink' can actually be applied in the context of Manchester United this season when analysing David de Gea. United have endured a miserable season, but De Gea has been the bright spark in an otherwise poor campaign. His renaissance has been a joy to follow.
De Gea teetered between staying at Old Trafford and being forced out of the club last season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's indecisiveness was problematic and neither De Gea nor Dean Henderson knew whether they were deemed as United's long-term No.1. While it was hardly a healthy environment, the dilemma Solskjaer once wrestled with is a distant memory as De Gea has taken charge again.
After an underwhelming season, the Spaniard returned from his holiday early in the summer and Henderson also struggled to return to fitness after contracting COVID which meant he started in between the sticks against Leeds on the opening day of the season.
De Gea's position as United's No.1 hasn't been in doubt since and he's has gone from strength to strength with every passing week.
The highlight reel of De Gea's campaign - it's only January - will make for excellent viewing. De Gea has consistently been United's standout performer and that's telling. He's made some remarkable saves that he has no right to make. He's made the extraordinary look ordinary. It's therefore a jarring statement to make to suggest that De Gea is contributing to United's problems.
It's actually OK to simultaneously believe that De Gea has been United's best player this season while also recognising his style of play is hindering the club's progression. That's doublethink. United's problems this season are vast and complex and De Gea is the last person at the club that blame should be attributed, however, there is data available that suggests an uncomfortable truth.
De Gea is a world-class shot-stopper yet there's been a feeling that's been impossible to shirk during his time at the club that he's weak in other important areas. Such doubts can be discounted when De Gea is performing so well, but what makes a genuinely world-class goalkeeper in 2022? Shot stopping ability? Distribution? Competence in the air? The standards are so high.
De Gea was outstanding again as United beat Brentford 3-1 on Wednesday and the game would have been beyond United's grasp before Anthony Elanga's goal without his interventions, but his distribution was poor, as was his competence claiming crosses.
That is nothing new. De Gea is often glued to his line and he doesn't claim crosses as an elite goalkeeper should. He also doesn't venture outside of his box to sweep up, which would allow United to aggressively press higher as Ralf Rangnick wants.
These issues seem irrelevant when De Gea has been United's best player this term and when United's problems elsewhere in the squad seem to need more urgent attention, but they're important to consider as the club is about to reach a crossroads.
United need a world-class manager at the end of the season. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have taken their respective clubs to levels above where United are and they both have one thing in common: they demand a certain approach from their goalkeepers.
Manchester City's Ederson almost single-handedly redefined what it takes to succeed as a goalkeeper at the pinnacle of the Premier League. The Brazilian is as confident with the ball at his feet as in his hands and it has been no coincidence that Liverpool won the Champions League and ended their 30-year wait for a Premier League title after signing Alisson Becker from Roma.
De Gea might be viewed as the league's best shot-stopper, however, the data shows he's inferior to Ederson and Alisson on most other crucial metrics. De Gea has averaged fewer ariel duels won, fewer successful passes and more ball losses than both players.
De Gea has also averaged more long passes than Ederson and Alisson. It could be argued this reflects each side's philosophy, with emphasis placed on playing out from the back for City and Liverpool, but it could also be suggested that De Gea panics on the ball and that his distribution is poor. Ultimately, the data is objective and reaffirms the eye test when watching all three goalkeepers.
If United want to challenge for major honours again and return the club to its former glory, perhaps they need a different goalkeeper than De Gea, but there's no denying he's been United's standout performer this season and his heroics deserve great praise.
It's OK to hold two contradictory beliefs simultaneously on De Gea while accepting them both.
The society we live in doesn't always have to be black and white.
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