De Gea on Real Madrid rumours: "The future? No one knows..."
The Manchester United goalkeeper talked openly to AS about his club's season so far, but when pressed on reports over Real Madrid's return for his signature in the summer, De Gea remained tight-lippedPSG - Real Madrid: Champions League
Real Madrid are set to return for Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea this summer after an infamous administrative error in the final moments of the transfer window saw Los Blancos miss out on his signature in 2015.
Talking to AS’ Premier League correspondent, Edu.F. Abascal, De Gea answered questions on Manchester United’s season so far, life under Jose Mourinho, and about his much speculated future…
Manchester United are sixth in the table, 14 points behind leaders Chelsea and two behind the Champions League places. What’s your view on how the team is doing?
I think we're in good form. We’re on a 15-match unbeaten run in the league and we’ve won the last two matches [in the FA Cup against Wigan and the Premier League versus Leicester]. The team’s doing well, we must continue down this route to get into the top four as soon as possible.
Don’t you think an investment of 200 million euros in signings and the arrival of José Mourinho will be sufficient enough to get into the Champions League?
Whenever the season starts at such a big club, with the players we have and the new coach, you obviously always want to win the Premier League. Now that’ll be very difficult but you have to finish as high as possible.
"We are all going to fight to get as close to Chelsea as possible"
Do you already consider Chelsea as the champions?
The truth is that they’re doing really well. I think they’re nine points ahead of second place and they have the title in their hands. We are all going to fight to get as close as possible but they are very well placed.
Would it be a disappointment to end the season without being able to even challenge Chelsea for the trophy?
Obviously, when you do not get to fight for the Premier Legaue…I don’t know if you can say it’s a disappointment but in a club as big as this you always have to fight for it. It’s already very difficult. Chelsea are much closer to it but we’ll continue battling until the end.
Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool are also ahead of United, having spent much less. How do you explain it?
That’s football. In the end, all clubs spend money. There are things that go well and others that do not. The team needs time to adapt because new players have arrived. I think now we’re much better, but we have to give this team time to win the Premier League again.
Last year you won the FA Cup and this year you’re still alive in the two cups and the Europa League. Would winning one of them be a consolation?
We are already in the final of the League Cup and we are still fighting for the FA Cup and the Europa League. That too is also a good way to get titles and keep making history with the club.
Personally, how do you see your future at United?
The future nobody knows. The future is the future. I'm very happy here, it's a great club. In England, football is enjoyed a lot.
Real Madrid could be back for you in the summer. How do you see it?
I’m not going to talk about that. I‘m not going to talk about that subject now. I just have to keep focused on my club.