David de Gea bemoans lack of support in Spain after costly World Cup mistake against Portugal
The Spain goalkeeper's error at the end of the first half proved costly in a thrilling draw
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Your support makes all the difference.David de Gea believes he has the full backing of his Spain team-mates and manager Fernando Hierro after his costly World Cup error against Portugal, but has bemoaned a lack of support from his home country in general.
The Manchester United goalkeeper - rated by many as the world’s best in his position - was left red-faced when he allowed Cristiano Ronaldo’s speculative shot at the end first half to ricochet off his left hand and trickle over the goalline.
Ronaldo had beaten De Gea once already by that point, converting an early penalty, and the mistake would ultimately prove decisive. After two Diego Costa goals and a Nacho strike put Spain ahead, Ronaldo sealed a hat-trick and a 3-3 draw for Portugal with a spectacular late free-kick.
De Gea struck a defiant tone after the final whistle, claiming he would feed off the criticism that his high-profile mistake will attract, but he also revealed that he does not feel as though he receives enough support in his own country.
“I like that there are criticisms,” he said after the final whistle. “Diego Costa has also been criticised and he scored two goals. I haven’t killed anyone, either. I’m happy with the national team.
“I don’t see much that they support me from Spain,” De Gea added. “My own criticism is bad enough. I would have liked that they defend me more in a difficult moment in my life, with an issue from outside the game. I am happy with the support from the manager and the lads.
“This can happen. It’s a mistake. We put on our gloves and go out into the field and we know how difficult it is. I count on the support of the coach and my colleagues to continue. I will stay calm. It was a difficult ball, I’ll keep training and try to do things right. I haven’t killed anyone.”
De Gea’s remarks on his lack of support in Spain most likely refer to a recent spat with Pedro Sanchez, the country’s newly-elected prime minister.
In 2016, De Gea was linked to a sexual assault case in Spain. The goalkeeper strenuously denied all allegations against him and was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, but Sanchez expressed misgivings about him playing for the national team at the time.
When Sanchez visited Spain’s World Cup squad following his election earlier this month, De Gea refused to applaud him and, though he was offered a personal apology by Sanchez, he later asked the politician to make his acknowledgment public.
“I politely accepted his apology,” De Gea told Diario AS last week. “The issue is that what he said back in the day was in public and that is why I think the apology should also be a public one.”
Hierro - who replaced Julen Lopetegui as Spain's head coach just two days before the start of the World Cup - confirmed after his side's 3-3 draw that he would stand by De Gea.
“We don’t have any doubts about De Gea and he doesn’t have doubts about himself,” Hierro said. “I gave him a long embrace. We know goalkeeper is a difficult position but we have absolutely no doubts about De Gea. Against a player like Ronaldo these things can happen.”
Gerard Pique, the Barcelona defender, added: “All of us are behind him, knowing that in the important moments he’s going to be like he’s always been. He doesn’t have any lack of confidence, that’s what you want to suggest, but in the dressing room, it’s clear David is our No 1.”