Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lauded David de Gea after his penalty-saving heroics in Manchester United's victory over West Ham, while downplaying talk of the Premier League title.
United goalkeeper De Gea saved his first penalty in 41 attempts to help the Red Devils secure a dramatic 2-1 win at West Ham.
Jesse Lingard curled in a stunning 89th-minute strike after United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier cancelled out Said Benrahma's deflected opener in London, where De Gea emerged the hero.
De Gea saved Mark Noble's 95th-minute penalty – the Spain international ending a drought dating back to April 2016 without saving a spot-kick.
These are the games. We win as a team. #team #MUFC pic.twitter.com/dW7ZZL4fTj
— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) September 19, 2021
United's De Gea has now saved three and conceded 28 of the penalties he has faced in the Premier League; he had failed to keep out 21 in a row in the competition before denying substitute Noble.
De Gea has found himself in the spotlight amid doubts over his future due to his form at Old Trafford, where Dean Henderson's arrival last season sparked speculation, but Solskjaer hailed the 30-year-old veteran.
"I believe in David and I've seen him [make a penalty save]," Solskjaer told reporters. "He saved against Crystal Palace last season, and his foot was a little inch off the line.
"I've seen Mark Noble score so many penalties, you did feel down and out and expected to come home with one point but luckily David has continued his good form."
United have now gone 29 away Premier League matches without defeat, Lingard claiming their latest comeback victory.
Solskjaer's United are unbeaten in their last 14 away games in the Premier League when conceding first (W10 D4), including a 3-1 win in this fixture last season.
2016 - Including shoot-outs, David de Gea has saved a penalty for the first time since April 2016 for club and country, conceding 40 consecutive penalties before saving Mark Noble's in stoppage time today. Timely. pic.twitter.com/HmaVr0QcrK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 19, 2021
United – who have not won the Premier League since 2012-13 – are level with Chelsea and Liverpool atop the table through five matches.
"We're five games into the season, and I was probably down and out and lost my job yesterday [Saturday, after the Champions League loss to Young Boys during the week]," said Solskjaer. "So, that's just the way it is at Man United.
"We've got to keep our feet grounded, dig out points like we did today. I thought they deserved the three points and you know it's a hard place to come and get these points.
"Hopefully we can, can make a difference, let's see when we get towards April and May."
