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Schmeichel backs spirited De Gea
David de Gea has earned the respect of Manchester United's greatest-ever goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel.
The Great Dane is an interested observer in the current battle between the Spaniard and his Danish compatriot, Anders Lindegaard, to establish themselves as the outright Old Trafford number one.
De Gea has been on the sidelines for the last three games, having had his wisdom teeth removed, but boss Sir Alex Ferguson is refusing to reveal a preference.
Both keepers have kept just one clean sheet apiece this season and are again in the dark ahead of the Red Devils hosting West Ham United on Wednesday.
Schmeichel, however, admits he has been very impressed with the way De Gea has managed to keep battling in the face of wider criticism for some of his dodgy performances.
Schmeichel told the Manchester Evening News: "I don't feel sympathy for David, but I admire the fella. I cannot remember anyone coming into Manchester United and being criticised the way he has been criticised. He was ridiculed every day.
"He has managed to dig himself out of it. By the end of last season people were starting to say this guy is a good goalkeeper. But at the beginning he wasn't.
"I admire someone who has the mind to do that. Very slowly he is working his way through it."