‘Too many years without trophies’ admits David de Gea following Man United’s Champions League exit
- Planet Sport writer
- 16 March 2022
With Manchester United staring down the barrel of another trophyless season, David de Gea vented his frustrations following Tuesday’s defeat to Atletico Madrid.
The 1-0 loss at Old Trafford not only ended Man United's Champions League ambitions, but also condemned the Red Devils to a fifth year without silverware.
With Ralf Rangnick's men already out of all the domestic cups and well off the pace in the Premier League, the club's trophy cabinet will gather more dust over the summer.
One man infuriated by the club's inability to mount a serious bid for trophies is David de Gea.
The Spaniard said: "Difficult to describe with words how I feel, how we feel.
"It's another tough moment for us. It wasn't enough what we did to beat Atletico in two games. I think they're an experienced team, they know how to play those games very well and it's a very difficult moment for us.
"It's always tough when you go out of the Champions League, especially the way we did. We got a good draw in Madrid and then we play here with the fans.
"I don't know if we should win this game, to be honest, but we don't win the game and we're out again, another bad year for us, so it's very, very tough."
Manchester United's last piece of silverware was the Europa League which they won in 2017 under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho.
What's more, the club hasn't won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson's last season in 2012/13.
"There are too many years without any trophies, even without fighting for trophies," De Gea added.
"So I think we need to be clear we want to achieve good things, fight for trophies, we don't just want to play for the top four and be there, get out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals. Something like this.
"So we need much more from everyone because this club is too big for where we are now. We are far from the fighting places for the Premier League, for the Champions League, so we need much more from everyone."
Despite his disappointment at Man United's Champions League exit, De Gea still believes the club has the ability to win major honours.
He said: "Of course we all want the best for the club, especially myself. I've been here many, many years.
"I love the club. You saw the fans today, they have been amazing in a difficult season again, so I really believe - I don't know when - this club is going be back at the top and we are going to be fighting for big things."