Alex Remiro has been paying close attention to Manchester United this season, drawing parallels with struggles he has faced first hand at Real Sociedad.
Manchester United take on Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday night in San Sebastian.
It’s a chance for Ruben Amorim’s side to dust themselves off after United suffered defeat against Fulham following a penalty shootout in the FA Cup fifth round.
United are out of the FA Cup, which means the only chance of silverware – or qualifying for the Champions League – relies on the Europa League.
The Reds are 14th in the Premier League and they face a side 9th in La Liga.
A place in the Europa League quarter-finals is up for grabs, with La Real standing in United’s way.
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Alex Remiro admires Ruben Amorim
Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro was linked with a move to United last year when reports in Spain suggested the Reds were beginning to get fed up with first choice stopper Andre Onana.
Speaking ahead of Thursday night, in an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Remiro revealed he has been watching United this season. He compares our struggles with their own at La Real.
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Asked whether he is watching United now, Remiro said: “Yes. For work and because I like to.
“I feel like the same is happening to them as happens to us, a bit. They have players with huge potential but they don’t seem to quite find the solution to be the team they once were, to be higher up.”
Remiro went on to admit he likes Ruben Amorim as well as former United manager Erik ten Hag.
“Maybe they need a run of five, six, seven games winning, but something always happens,” he added.
“I like the new coach, I like his ideas – I liked Erik ten Hag too – but it feels like something always goes wrong.”
Remiro idolises former David de Gea
The Spanish goalkeeper also revealed that he idolised David de Gea in his younger years.
After arriving in Manchester from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011, De Gea spent 12 years between the posts at Old Trafford.
De Gea made 545 appearances and 190 clean sheets during his time at United.
When asked who stood out for him when he was younger, Remiro said: “When I started playing as a goalkeeper one of my idols was David de Gea. De Gea’s videos? I’ve seen all of them. Absolutely all of them.
“I liked his reactions, how intuitive he is. I didn’t really understand the end. The year out. He was their best player and I didn’t understand why he left … I liked watching Ronaldo too, and David Silva.”