Source: Team_Talk
Fergie expects De Gea protection
Gareth Bale says Tottenham will target David De Gea at Manchester United - but Sir Alex Ferguson expects more "protection" for the goalkeeper.[LNB] De Gea was at fault for goals both in United's Community Shield match against Manchester City and in their Premier League clash against West Bromwich Albion last weekend.[LNB]And Bale, whose Spurs' side travel to Old Trafford on Monday night, hopes to take advantage of the Spaniard's current dip in form.[LNB]"If any keeper's having a bad time, you're going to test them and it's going to be no different," the 22-year-old told the Sunday Mirror. "We're going to go to Old Trafford and give our all and test their whole team."[LNB]Bale fully expects, however, that De Gea will eventually prove his worth.[LNB]"It's obviously going to be nerve-racking for him to go to United and be in the first team, but he showed at Atletico Madrid and with Spain that he's a world class keeper," he added.[LNB]Ferguson, meanwhile, believes De Gea will get better protection from referees when playing at Old Trafford.[LNB]"He coped with the crosses into the box at West Brom with no problem - he just didn't get any protection," Ferguson said. [LNB]"You saw the challenges - an elbow in the face and a boy went under him and he didn't get the free-kick.[LNB]"It's disappointing when you don't get the protection, but he's at home against Spurs on Monday and it won't be a problem. [LNB]"It's just away from home where he might get subjected to that."[LNB]Ferguson also dismissed fears over De Gea's lightweight frame.[LNB]"David will go through the same programme of core work as the rest of the players do when they come here," said the United boss.[LNB]"(Edwin) Van der Sar was a tall, skinny kid when he won the European Cup (with Ajax) in 1995. He was the same - and don't forget David is only 20.[LNB]"But I have no problems with him, none at all. We have never mentioned the criticism this week that David got after the West Brom game.[LNB]"He's fine, he's done his training - there's no problem."[LNB]Ferguson also revealed that Peter Schmeichel suffered similar problems to De Gea in his first games for the club in 1991.[LNB]"Schmeichel had a baptism of fire, too," added Ferguson. "He went to Wimbledon in his first couple of games with us and screamed like a pig.[LNB]"He got no protection. He had Vinnie Jones, Alan Cork and John Fashanu all piling on top of him and battering lumps out of him. David will be fine."
