David de Gea is better than Thibaut Courtois

Manchester United keeper David de Gea is better than Chelsea‘s Thibaut Courtois, an Old Trafford legend has claimed.

The Spanish international has been named in the PFA Team of the Year the past two seasons, and has consistently bailed out a series of shaky United defences during his five years in England.

On Sunday he will come up against the giant Belgian and fellow former Atletico Madrid star Courtois, as Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time as manager of the Red Devils.

According to Gary Bailey, who made almost 300 United appearances after establishing himself as first choice goalkeeper in the late 1970s, De Gea has the edge between the two stoppers.

‘De Gea and Courtois are right up there with the top five in the world right now – no question,’ he told Inside United.

‘It’s a difficult one, but I think David is [better] because there were a couple of question marks last year with Courtois, but both are great. When Courtois was at Atletico Madrid, he was absolutely brilliant.

‘David still amazes me. I was the same age when I was in the team and I felt the need to shout and scream, and try to control people around me.

‘He’s just so relaxed – he doesn’t get uptight, things go in, he looks at one or two players and then gets on with the game.’