Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea should be ready to "step up" when he signs for Manchester United, believes former Red Devils shot stopper Peter Schmeichel. De Gea is seen as a replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar and Goal.com UK revealed the Spaniard is expected to move to Old Trafford in a £17.5 million deal on June 1. But Schmeichel believes he will need to be ready for the pressure that come from playing for the Premier League champions.
"De Gea has done very well at Atletico but now he has to step up a level because he is not just signing for any old team, he is signing for Manchester United," he said, according to the Daily Mirror. "This is not just by chance. [United boss Sir Alex] Ferguson does not sign anyone like that. When he signs someone it is because he has followed them for a long time.
"When he arrives there in July, Ferguson will tell him everything he needs to know."United take on Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday in the Champions League final and Schmeichel backed his former side to beat the Spanish giants and lift the trophy - just like he did in 1999; in Catalunia.
"In Barcelona there is a lot of confidence because they have a great team, but also there is a feeling of respect, just as there is in Manchester," he added to COPE Radio.
"With any other opponent you would be sure that Barcelona would win, but this is Manchester United, who are a great team that have patience. Although Barca will have a lot of the ball, United will not become nervous - and only a few teams are capable of that.
"I think that in Barcelona there is a lot more respect being shown for United than for any other opponent this season. "Ferguson has two options: If he wants to tire Barcelona out and frustrate them, then play with one striker. I am sure that he will keep it secret until the last moment. I hope that he plays with two up front for the good of the game.
"The most important thing when you play Barca is that if you cannot defend against [Lionel] Messi, because I think that is virtually impossible, [but] you should at least keep him as far away from the area as possible.
"When you look at the Barca team though, it is full of good players - and I hope that they will say the same when looking at Manchester United."