SPAIN | DE GEA
De Gea: "United have made the right move by signing Mourinho"
The Manchester United and Spain keeper chatted to 'El Larguero' about his future and his former club Atlético: "They deserved to win the Champions League".
The Manchester United and Spain keeper spoke to Spanish radio show El Larguero about his future, former club Atlético deserving to win the Champions League and how José Mourinho's appointment at United is a shrewd move.
Staying at United: I haven't heard anything but right now I'm not worried; I have three years to run in Manchester, with a club who have given me everything. And besides, I'm not thinking about anything other than the national team. No one from Real Madrid has been in touch with me - I'm sud to seeing things appear on the front covers of newspapers but I am focused only on Spain and the Euros - that's all I have on my mind.
A better goalkeeper with more experience: I think I am; I've played in some very important games with United, and won trophies there, and I'm playing games with Spain… so I think I have improved a s a player - I'm more mature and I'm ready for any situation. I am much more mature than I was five years ago. The passing of time makes you see things in a different light but I'm still the same lad as I've always been with the same desire to compete at the top level and win silverware. Time brings maturity, you learn from the good things that you go through and the bad things and the older you get, you see football and life in a different way.
Atlético: Atleti fans have suffered a lot in the past few years, they haven't had the luck which they deserve but they have to keep believing in the club and the team they have. I spent many years there and I know they are real fighters. Atleti gave me everything, it gave me the chance to make a name for myself on the European statge and that's something which I will always carry in my heart.
How would you explain to Atlético fans that you nearly signed for Real Madrid? I don't know, it's something which you don't really think about, you only think about the present. In the end it didn't happen and that's that.
Champions League: Atleti eliminated some very complicated opponents, they have never won the Champions League, but they probably deserved to win it this year more than Real Madrid; I didn't cry but I did suffer watching it, right from the first minute.
Has the situation at United changed now that Van Gaal's gone? No, I joined United to win trophies; it's fair to say that in the past two seasons we haven't been at the level expected at the club, but we hope that, with the change of coach, we can make United return to the top level.
First choice in goal for Spain at Euro 2016: I don't really know about that. I hope I get to play, I am really keen to play in the Euros, and I'm desperate to help the team out; I've been preparing for this and I hope it all turns out well. I've been playing at a high level for a number of years now. But this is the national team, there's a lot of pressure and a lot of talk about the goalkeeping position but I'm relaxed about it. I'll continue training hard, and I'll try to help the team in whatever way I can.
Have you spoken to Casillas, Ramos, Pedro or Cesc about Mourinho? No, we already know what he's like as a coach; I think United really needed a manager like him, a coach with personality and one who is a winner. United got it spot on signing Mou.
