David De Gea Proves He's Not Done Yet: Stats Show Goalkeeper's Continued Excellence

David De Gea's stats at Fiorentina show he's still an elite goalkeeper, with impressive numbers compared to his time at Manchester United.

Real Betis will face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg, seeking to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. Fiorentina, who have reached the final in the last two seasons, will rely on their experience to secure a win at home.

Fiorentina's home advantage and recent form could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the tie. The hosts will aim to capitalize on their strengths and overcome the deficit to reach the final.

Fiorentina Aims for Third Consecutive Conference League Final

Fiorentina seeks to overcome Real Betis and reach their third consecutive Conference League final, having lost to West Ham United two seasons ago and Olympiacos last season. The stakes are high, with the winner likely to face Chelsea in the final later this month.

In terms of current form, Real Betis have been impressive, winning four and drawing one of their last five games. In contrast, Fiorentina have struggled, losing their last two matches, including the first leg against Betis and a Serie A game at Roma, while also winning two and drawing one of their last five.

Manchester United flop Antony has shown a resurgence in form since joining Real Betis on loan, and Fiorentina manager Raffaele Palladino may want his defenders to keep a close eye on the Brazilian winger to limit his impact.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, now playing for Fiorentina, will aim to stop Antony and Betis from making headlines. De Gea's journey to Fiorentina came after a period where he struggled to find a club, reportedly due to salary demands. Despite this, he has adapted well to life in Florence.

Fiorentina's decision to sign David de Gea has paid off, with the experienced goalkeeper proving himself worthy of the No. 1 shirt. Since joining, De Gea has started all 36 games, completing every possible minute and showcasing his reliability.

David de Gea's distribution has raised concerns, with a 69.8% pass completion rate this season. However, the context is important - he has played 911 passes, a significant volume that highlights his involvement in the team's build-up play. In fact, this pass volume was only surpassed in the 2022/23 Premier League season.

David de Gea's passing stats show a slight improvement in accuracy this season, with 69.8% completion compared to 68.3% in his 2022/23 Premier League campaign, where he made 1083 passes. While he has shown better accuracy in specific tournaments, such as 74.8% in Manchester United's 2022/23 Europa League campaign, the sample size was smaller with only 314 passes. This improvement might suggest Erik ten Hag's judgment of De Gea's abilities was premature.

De Gea's Improvement in Key Areas

David De Gea's long ball distribution has shown significant improvement, with a 39.7% success rate, up from his previous best of 29.7% during his time with Manchester United. Additionally, De Gea has been heavily involved in play, registering 1,178 touches of the ball this season, surpassing his involvement in most competitions for United in recent seasons, except for the 2022/23 Premier League campaign where he had 1,371 touches.

David De Gea has excelled in one-on-one duels, winning all nine encounters with opposition strikers this season, maintaining his 100% record from recent campaigns. He has also made 207 ball recoveries, surpassing his totals from the last three seasons. De Gea dominates his box, winning all six aerial duels this season, just shy of his perfect record in the 2021/22 season.

It’s not over - we believe 🟣 pic.twitter.com/BVpFt1Gg3x

— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) May 2, 2025

De Gea's defensive stats have improved significantly, conceding 32 goals in Serie A compared to 43 and 57 in his final two seasons at Manchester United. He has also made 30 clearances, a notable increase, possibly due to being busier, but his goalkeeping excellence is underscored by his reduced goals conceded.

De Gea's Continued Excellence

David De Gea's statistics demonstrate that he is far from being finished as a goalkeeper, showcasing his continued ability to perform at a high level. His impressive form suggests he still has years left at the top.

The manner in which Manchester United handled his departure, bringing in Andre Onana, could have been handled more professionally, regardless of Onana's abilities or perceived shortcomings. A more considerate approach would have been preferable.

David De Gea's recent performances will be a bitter pill for Manchester United to swallow, given their ongoing struggles. A strong showing against Real Betis could help Fiorentina reach another Conference League final, giving De Gea the satisfaction of proving his worth after leaving United.

De Gea's success would be a notable turnaround, allowing him to have the last laugh over his former club.