Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits he DID consider subbing on Dean Henderson because of David de Gea’s poor penalty record but was ‘confident’ in the Spaniard because they’d prepared him for it… but he then conceded ALL 11 spot-kicks (before failing to score)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he did consider replacing David de Gea with Dean Henderson before the penalty shootout in Manchester United’s Europa League final defeat against Villarreal.
De Gea, who missed the only spot-kick as Villarreal claimed a 11-10 victory, has an abysmal record from penalty situations and has now conceded the last 40 he’s faced in regulation time and shootouts for United and Spain.
The United keeper has not saved a penalty for five years, his last coming against Everton in the 2016 FA Cup final, while Henderson has a considerably better record.
David de Gea looks dejected as he collects his runners-up medal after Europa League final loss
The Man United keeper failed to make a single save as they lost 11-10 in the penalty shootout
Henderson thwarted Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus from 12 yards while on loan at Sheffield United last season and has also in the past made key saves in the 2019 Under-21 European Championship and the 2018 League One Play-off final.
Solskjaer however opted to send Alex Telles and Juan Mata on as his final two substitutions in added time merely so they could take penalties before later admitting that he had contemplated replacing De Gea instead.
‘You go through every scenario, of course, and it [De Gea’s penalty record] had crossed my mind in the build-up to the game but we were confident in David and prepared.
‘Anything can happen in a penalty shootout. I stuck with the keeper who played all of the game.
‘I’ve got to say the penalty shootout was high quality, but we didn’t do enough in the 120 minutes to score more goals and that’s the disappointing bit.
‘We had pressure, we had moments where we felt if we can just kick on a little bit now we can get a goal. But we just couldn’t.’
De Gea was the only player to miss from the spot, handing Villarreal victory in Gdansk
His awful penalty record continued and he has now conceded the last 40 he’s faced
After Edinson Cavani’s second-half equaliser cancelled out Gerard Moreno’s first-half opener there were no further goals in Gdansk and it was Villarreal who triumphed following the nerve-shredding shootout, extending below-par United’s wait for a first trophy since 2017 – while Unai Emery lifted the Europa League for a fourth time.
Solskjaer said: ‘We’ve got to, not savour the feeling, but taste it and make sure you don’t get it again.’
He added: ‘No. It’s not a successful season.
‘Trophies is what matter at this club so no is the short answer.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted he thought about replacing De Gea with Dean Henderson
Henderson has a considerably better record saving penalties but was left on the bench
