Paul Scholes believes ‘shaky’ Dean Henderson has blown chance to establish himself as Man United No 1 as David de Gea is chosen for Europa League final… with Rio Ferdinand convinced decision to drop Spaniard in the league helped him ‘reboot’
- Scholes says Henderson missed the chance to become United’s No.1 goalkeeper
- David de Gea was selected ahead of Henderson for United’s Europa League final
- The former Red Devil says he is ‘glad’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has selected De Gea
- Scholes says that Henderson had previously looked ‘nice and controlled’ in goal
- However, the TV pundit now says that the 24-year-old goalkeeper looks ‘shaky’
Paul Scholes says Dean Henderson missed the ‘chance’ to establish himself as Manchester United‘s No.1 goalkeeper and claims David De Gea has been ‘excellent’.
The former Red Devil says he is ‘glad’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has selected De Gea for Manchester United’s Europa League final with Villarreal as he worries Henderson would be too ‘shaky’ in goal.
Scholes says Henderson looked ‘nice and controlled’ between the sticks when he was first given his opportunity by the United manager, but says he has struggled to maintain such form – leading to his most recent omission.
Paul Scholes says Dean Henderson missed the chance to become United’s No.1 goalkeeper
Speaking ahead of United’s clash with Villarreal, Scholes said: ‘It’s right to go with experience.
‘I thought De Gea was left out at the right time, it was time to give Henderson a chance. Has he taken that chance? I don’t think he has.
‘He started off looking nice and controlled but since then he has looked a little bit shaky.
Scholes says that Henderson had looked ‘nice and controlled’ in goal but now looks ‘shaky’
The former Red Devil says he is ‘glad’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has selected David De Gea
‘David coming back into the team has been excellent, I’m glad he’s playing – I still think he’s no.1.’
Fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand agreed with Scholes, saying Henderson failed to grab his opportunity.
He said: ‘I think at a point you need to be given a shock, David was sitting pretty untouchable, you need to get out the team, sit out and watch, reboot.
‘Henderson didn’t come in and grab the chance.’
While Owen Hargreaves added: I think it’s huge [De Gea coming back], he’s been in this game, he understands what it means, he’s got a lot to play for.
‘If they win and he has a great game then united have two great goalies to figure out who is number one.
Solskjaer said De Gea deserved to start after his displays in the quarter-final and the semi-final
De Gea, 30, featured in the quarter-finals against Granada as well as the semi-finals against Roma, while England international Henderson featured in the earlier rounds against Real Sociedad and AC Milan.
However, Solskjaer says it was De Gea who proved his worth and deserved to be rewarded with a place in the Europa League final.
He said: We have two very good keepers. David has played the quarters and semis and done really well. It’s a reward for his hard work and experience. We expect him to be ready for this.
