‘Questions Have to be Asked of David De Gea’ Claims Ex-City Defender

Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills has questioned the ability of Manchester United number one David De Gea, following the Spaniard's latest error that contributed to their Champions League elimination.

Manchester United dramatically crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday night following their shock 2-1 defeat to lowly FC Basel in Switzerland and the aforementioned Manchester City star, who is now a pundit on BBC Radio 5 Live, believes Sir Alex Ferguson's side "got it completely wrong."

Despite their seemingly relatively easy group, Manchester United toiled throughout the campaign and although Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to criticise his young player in light of the Red Devils' disappointing exit, Mills, who spent five years at Manchester City during the mid-2000s, suggests the aforementioned Old Trafford number one has been particularly culpable.

"When this group stage came out Manchester United were a certainty to go through, but they have got it completely wrong." The ex-Manchester City fullback told the BBC.

"Disastrous results at home have cost them dear and I don't think they did enough here tonight to test the goalkeeper.

"It was a disappointing performance, especially in the second half when they never really went for it.

"Questions have to be asked of (Manchester United goalkeeper) David De Gea. Is he the right man to replace Edwin van der Saar? I'm not so sure."

De Gea has been widely criticised for the first of Basel's two goals, when he explicably endeavoured to clear a cross with his feet rather than his hands, whilst his Manchester United teammate Chris Smalling lay stricken on the floor.

Although the Manchester United youngster has been held responsible for the opening goal last night, he has received unlikely support from Arsenal counterpart Wojciech Szczesny.

The Polish international wrote on his Twitter page in the aftermath of Manchester United's defeat: "I don't agree with De Gea criticism. He's potentially one of the best GK in the world but needs time to get his confidence at Man United. You have to perform at your best every game when you play for big clubs and when De Gea is at his best he is unreal. Give him some time..."