“Svilar just has to keep working hard”

David de Gea spoke to Manchester United social media about Mile Svilar, the belgian who became, against the English side, the youngest goalkeeper ever to play in the Champions League. 

The Benfica goalkeeper didn't make the best approach in the play that result in goal, but the Spanish international believes the youngster will recover.

“Yes, I did. But then that’s the life of a goalkeeper for you. It can be tough especially when you are so young and make a big mistake – but in the end you just have to live with it and learn from the errors that you make. He’s just a young lad and he’s only just starting out his career and I’m sure he’ll be fine.”, said the Spanish who, at Luz, had the chance to talk with Svilar ate the end of the match.

For playing the same position for several years in the Spanish National team - where he’s in the starting XI- and for having represented Atletico Madrid and now Manchester United, De Gea left some advice.

“At the end of the day when you are so young you get used to any mistakes you make and you just have to cope with them. Svilar just has to work very hard and enjoy what he does”, he said. 

Manchester United hosts  Benfica at 7:45 pm on Tuesday, at Old Trafford. 

Text: Marco Rebelo