Gary Neville says Newcastle United-owned Martin Dúbravka was ‘very theatrical’ and ‘rusty’ during Manchester United’s 2-0 EFL Cup win over Championship side Burnley on Wednesday night.
After moving to Old Trafford from Newcastle in the summer on a season-long loan deal, this was only Dúbravka’s second appearance for Manchester United.
Whilst the scoreboard reads that he kept a clean sheet, it was far from that for the Slovakia international, who was pretty lucky that he wasn’t punished for some of his error-prone moments.
From trying to punch the ball following a corner and the ball nearly ending up in his own net, to letting the ball slip under his feet when the ball was passed back to him.
This was a game where Dúbravka will be counting his lucky chickens because, against much stronger opposition, this could and should have been a lot worse for the player.
Nonetheless, during the half-time break and then after the full-time whistle, Gary Neville shared his thoughts on Dúbravka, as he told Sky Sports Football.
At half-time: “Theatrical from Dubravka,” said Neville when reacting to the GK saving a curling shot from outside of the box. “This was just after that, from that corner, and this was very theatrical. He just had a very difficult few minutes, the goalkeeper and Man United were getting caught in these types of areas.
“This one is sloppy. It gets caught under his foot and then he is chasing himself.
After full-time: “He was rusty. I think a few of them were rusty. They got caught on the ball quite a bit at the back. Burnley if they had been more clinical would have scored one more goal and maybe more.”
LAST DANCE FOR DUBRAVKA
This is a loan deal for Dúbravka and it wouldn’t be a surprise if those at Old Trafford opt against signing the 33-year-old on a permanent basis.
Whilst Erik ten Hag might be looking for a long-term replacement for David de Gea, one thing is for sure, his replacement isn’t at Man United now.
That will then mean that the former Sparta Prague player heads back to Newcastle, who are flying high under Eddie Howe and pushing for Europe with Nick Pope in between the sticks.
The England international has been outstanding for the Magpies and his place isn’t going to be taken up by anyone anytime soon, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dúbravka is moved on at the end of the season.
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