David De Gea proves Erik ten Hag wrong yet again after Man United sacking

David de Gea has once again proved former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wrong - following his Man of the Match performance in Fiorentina's 1-0 victory over Genoa.

The Spaniard has been impressive since joining Fiorentina on a one-year deal last summer, after a 14-month hiatus from football post his release by United when his contract expired in 2023.

The goalkeeper was replaced by Andre Onana under Ten Hag, who believed Onana's ball skills would alter United's play style. Despite having just won the Premier League Golden Glove award and reportedly agreeing to an extension, United withdrew their offer.

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De Gea made his feelings known after Ten Hag's dismissal as United's manager on Monday. On the day Ten Hag's departure was confirmed, De Gea posted the pinched fingers emoji, commonly used in Italy to express disagreement, frustration or disbelief.

And De Gea sent another message to Ten Hag on Thursday, demonstrating that he still possesses the ability to compete at the highest level. The 33-year-old made several excellent saves to secure a clean sheet and all three points for Fiorentina.

The win propelled Fiorentina to fourth place in Serie A, much to the delight of manager Raffaele Palladino. "It was a hard-fought and dirty victory. It was a difficult match," said Palladino, reports the Mirror.

Palladino expressed his appreciation for the competition, saying: "I want to congratulate Genoa and its fans because today it was very difficult to play in this stadium with a crowd that cheered on their players. It was a dirty match, they put us in difficulty on the second balls but these are the victories that give you satisfaction."

He went on to talk about the significance of their win: "We needed a victory like this, like real men. These are the victories that make us grow and give us great morale and awareness."

Palladino has also previously extolled praise for De Gea's talents after a stellar performance against AC Milan, noting: "Trust me, he's still a monster.

He continued to laud De Gea: "He's a top, world-class player. We can see why he's a champion, a real one. We should thank him every day, he's a top goalkeeper and a role model."

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