MANCHESTER UNITED GOALKEEPER Anders Lindegaard believes that team-mate David De Gea will be No1 at Old Trafford – once he has retired.
The pair have been battling it out to secure first choice in the position and while both have been guilty of errors at times this season, Lindegaard has started the last three games and is likely to do so against Arsenal on Sunday.
The Danish international, who was a low key signing from Norwegian club Aalesund in 2010, saw Alex Ferguson splash €20m on bringing in De Gea from Atletico Madrid to replace the retired Edwin van der Sar during the summer.
And although he has a huge amount of praise and respect for his rival, Lindegaard is intent on keeping him out of the side for the next decade.
“David has extraordinary attributes, he is extremely explosive and powerful,” the 27-year-old said in The Daily Telegraph.
He is only 21, but his potential is massive and there is no doubt he will be United’s best goalkeeper at some point. My job is to make sure it is not until I have retired, which is about 10 years away!
“Of course, everyone wants to play as much as possible and I’m no different, so I don’t need a definition of my position (as first-choice).”
Lindegaard, who has made ten appearances for United this season added that there is a positive atmosphere in training and that any competition between the two players will only help them improve.
“I am doing everything I can to help him.” he said. “I enjoy working with him.
“He is happy, intelligent, always with a good attitude and we have to push each other. We have to see the glass half full, not half empty, and we have to push each other in the right direction.”
