The Sport Matrix: Friday 15 February 2013

Giggs leads praise for De Gea after Bernabeu heroics

Manchester United's players have demanded that goalkeeper David de Gea, right, be given time to succeed at their club, after the 22-year-old's crucial role in securing a draw at the Bernabeu left Spain salivating over the idea of him returning to La Liga.

Michael Carrick, Phil Jones and Ryan Giggs all insisted De Gea, above, was coping with the high level of scrutiny that comes with being a Manchester United goalkeeper, with Giggs observing after the 1-1 draw against Real Madrid that he was being persecuted in a way that a young player in another position would not be.

"A centre-forward has to score goals but probably nothing will be said about missed chances," said Giggs. "There's a lot of pressure in every position but the centre-forwards are supposed to score goals and the keepers are supposed to keep it out of the net."

Carrick said: "To be at such a young age at this club and have so much on your shoulders, it shows what a player he is."

Jones said De Gea "deserves every credit he gets. He's come into the English league and it's not easy. He's done terrific."

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