Man Utd Trophy Drought Has Gone on Too Long, Says Dejected de Gea

David de Gea. (AP)
David de Gea. (AP)
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Man Utd Trophy Drought Has Gone on Too Long, Says Dejected de Gea

David de Gea. (AP)
David de Gea. (AP)

Manchester United have gone too many years without trophies and need a more determined collective effort to end their drought, goalkeeper David de Gea said after they crashed out of the Champions League following a defeat by Atletico Madrid.

A first-half header from Renan Lodi gave Atletico a 1-0 win on Tuesday for a 2-1 aggregate last-16 victory that extinguished United's hopes of a title this season and extended their trophy drought to five years.

"Of course it's not good enough," De Gea, who was part of the United squad that won the Europa League crown in 2017, said. "There are too many years without any trophies, even without fighting for trophies.

"We need to be clear we want to achieve good things and fight for trophies. We don't just want to play for the top four and get out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals.

"So we need much more from everyone because this club is too big for where we are now. We are far from the fighting places for the Premier League, for the Champions League, so we need much more from everyone."

United are fifth in the Premier League with 50 points from 29 games and face a daunting task to make the top four and earn a place in next year's Champions League.

"This is where we are at the moment. It's a difficult situation. We have to keep fighting. I feel very sad. But we were not good enough," De Gea said of the Atletico result.

"We are really disappointed with the result. It's difficult to put into words how we feel at the moment. We did not enough in both games to win it. It's a disappointing day for us."



Alexander-Arnold Not Disturbed by Transfer Noise, Liverpool Boss Slot Says

Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
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Alexander-Arnold Not Disturbed by Transfer Noise, Liverpool Boss Slot Says

Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)

Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold is not disturbed by the growing speculation around his future at the Premier League club and is fully focused on matters on the pitch, head coach Arne Slot said.

The 26-year-old England right back has been linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid with his Liverpool contract running out at the end of the season. Alexander-Arnold last month said his contract situation will not be played out in public.

Having come through the ranks at Anfield and captaining the club across its youth levels, Alexander-Arnold has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and the Club World Cup among other major honors since making his senior debut for Liverpool in 2016.

Captain Virgil van Dijk and winger Mohamed Salah are also out of contract at the end of the campaign.

"I think you underestimate our players. These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis, if they have contracts or not," Slot told reporters ahead of Sunday's Premier League home clash against Chelsea.

"If you think they're disturbed by this interest then you don't do justice to how strong they are mentally. This is part of our job. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do.

"Maybe if you're 17 or 18 years of age it could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League; Virgil and Mo the same. I don't think that is a problem for them to perform and that's what we see at the moment because they're playing really well."

Liverpool, who top the Premier League table with 18 points from seven matches, suffered a blow with first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Slot said he expects the 32-year-old Brazil international to return before Christmas.

"But you never know. It is always difficult to know how an injury will go in the first stages, so we can answer that question better in two or three weeks' time," the Dutchman added.