Paul Scholes claims Dean Henderson has now ‘taken over’ as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper after picking up another clean sheet against AC Milan… with ex-Red Devils star more ‘relaxed’ with the youngster in goal than with David de Gea
- Manchester United beat AC Milan 1-0 in the Europa League last-16 second-leg
- Dean Henderson kept yet another clean sheet for the Red Devils at the San Siro
- The 24-year-old goalkeeper made one impressive save from Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Paul Scholes claims Henderson has replaced David de Gea as United’s No 1
Paul Scholes believes Dean Henderson has now ‘taken over’ from David de Gea as Manchester United‘s first-choice goalkeeper after a clean sheet at AC Milan.
The 24-year-old put in an assured performance at the San Siro to help the Red Devils reach the Europa League quarter-finals. Paul Pogba scored the only goal of the second-leg to put Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s side through with a 2-1 aggregate win.
Henderson was called into action a couple of times – making one vital stop from Milan substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic late on – which has convinced Scholes that he is now Solskjaer’s first-choice option in net.
Paul Scholes claims Dean Henderson (left) is now Manchester United’s number one goalkeeper and not David de Gea (right)
Henderson (left) helped United to a 1-0 win at AC Milan and saved well from Zlatan Ibrahimovic
When asked who the club’s No 1 shot stopper, former United midfielder told BT Sport: ‘I think it’s Henderson now. He’s taken over.
‘I thought David had been lucky after the Everton game (in February) to keep his place. There were a couple of mistakes there. A few things before and after that – not glaring mistakes – but I feel more confidence with Henderson in there. I’m a little more relaxed.
‘I’m not having a go at David. He’s been a brilliant goalkeeper and could still be if Dean doesn’t take his chance. But the time has come to give him (Henderson) a run in the team.
Paul Scholes claims he feels more relaxed with Henderson in goal rather than De Gea
De Gea has been slammed for several errors this season – including two against Everton
‘He’s been picked in the England squad, he should be number one for England as well. He was really calm tonight and did what he did which was safe.’
Academy graduate Henderson was handed a run in the United team earlier this month after first-choice goalkeeper De Gea travelled to Spain to be with his wife for the birth of the couple’s first child.
Sportsmail revealed earlier this month that United boss Solskjaer told De Gea not to rush back to Manchester in order to give Henderson more minutes in the first-team.
Henderson has since kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets as well as playing in both of United’s matches with Milan in Europa League.
De Gea has not reclaimed his first-choice goalkeeper spot since returning from personal leave
The goalkeeper came under criticism after the first-leg at Old Trafford for allowing Simon Kjaer’s late equaliser to go through his hands and give Milan hope via a crucial away goal.
But fellow BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves claims it takes courage to come back with a resilient performance just a week later.
Hargreaves added: ‘You only know players – goalkeeper, outfield or whatever – when you make mistakes. He will be the first one to say he should have saved that one from the other day.
‘It’s going to be hard to get him out, as good as David’s been for United. He’s a really confident and vocal guy.
Henderson has kept three top-flight clean sheets but made an error against Milan last week
‘I think he deserves a lot of praise for bouncing back and putting in a good performance.’
Solskjaer himself took some time to praise Henderson for his save from Ibrahimovic, which prevented the Europa League last-16 tie from going into extra-time.
The Norwegian told BT: ‘You give yourself a chance to win a game of football (with a performance like that). Dean had a fantastic save from the big lad. I’m pleased with everyone’s defending.’
