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Retired Van der Sar won't solve Utd's No. 1 problem

Edwin van der Sar is happy in retirement © Getty Images

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Edwin van der Sar will not be coming out of retirement to help former side Manchester United out of their current goalkeeping crisis.

Van der Sar retired from football at the end of last season, vacating the No. 1 shirt at Old Trafford for the first time since his arrival at the club in 2005.

Spaniard David De Gea was bought in the summer as the Dutchman's de-facto replacement, but has struggled for form in his early months in England as understudy Anders Lindegaard has increasingly been preferred for big games by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Midfielder Paul Scholes ended his own retirement in January to reinforce the United midfield for the second half of the season, but Van der Sar insists he is not considering a similar shock return.

"I got a few text messages from friends saying, 'What about you?'," Van der Sar said, when asked about following Scholes' example. "I'm quite happy at the moment. There's no doubt in my mind."

Van der Sar believes the two men fighting to replace him have the quality to succeed in the Premier League, but insists De Gea must get his head straight and make the most of the opportunity presented to him by a recent injury to Lindegaard.

"It's always difficult if you're coming into a new club and new league, especially the English one. It's a very demanding one, can be a very tough one," he said.

"He has to deal with that. They paid a lot of money for him and he has to come through that."

Van der Sar added: "I spoke to Anders and he's disappointed of course that he's injured at the moment because he's really been magnificent."

Despite the current uncertainty between the posts, Van der Sar is confident his old team remain on course for yet another league crown.

"I think United have had a reasonably strong, competitive last month," he said. "I see the qualities United have and the tactics Ferguson can deploy. Hopefully that can be enough for another title."

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