Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea was hailed as 'stratospheric after his role in their Conference League win against Celje on Thursday.
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De Gea impresses in Conference League winGoalkeeper does 'monstrous things' in trainingViola gunning for semi-final placeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Fiorentina scraped a 2-1 win in the first leg of the quarter-final tie in Slovenia, with goals from Luca Ranieri and Rolando Mandragora making the difference for the visitors side. De Gea was crucial to Viola taking an advantage back to the return leg in Italy, making three saves in the second half as he was named the best player on the pitch by Italian media.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Fiorentina midfielder Mandragora hailed De Gea's efforts in the game as the ex-Manchester United player stood out on a night in which his Old Trafford replacement, Andre Onana, faced heavy criticism for his costly blunders in the Europa League draw at Lyon.
WHAT MANDRAGORA SAID
The midfielder said: "In training we see monstrous things. He is a stratospheric goalkeeper."
Coach Raffaele Palladino, meanwhile, was left to lament the penalty his team conceded, saying: "Celje are a good team . The regret is having conceded the goal: there we should have understood the match better. A bit of inexperience led us to make more touches but everything is open. We want to get through the round at home knowing that we are facing a great team."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR FIORENTINA?
De Gea and his Viola co-stars face struggling Parma in Serie A on Sunday before they host Celje in the second leg of the European encounter.
