Shaw was implicated in all three goals conceded against Manchester City on 14/9. He allowed Jeremy Doku to get past him, leading to Phil Foden's opening goal. The 30-year-old defender was also partially responsible for Erling Haaland's subsequent two goals. After the match, Keane singled out Shaw, claiming the English defender "gave up" and "threw in the towel" too early.
"Shaw has been indulged at Manchester United for too long," Keane said. "He's always injured, never at peak fitness, and we keep making excuses for him. Then when he gets on the pitch, Shaw plays as if he doesn't want to tackle or challenge for the ball."
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Luke Shaw responds to Roy Keane. Photo: SportsJoe |
Luke Shaw responds to Roy Keane. Photo: SportsJoe
Shaw's improved performance in the 2-1 win against Chelsea at Old Trafford on 20/9 seemed a direct response to Keane's comments. "Of course, those words hurt me. Roy Keane is a legendary captain in Manchester United's history, with vast experience," Shaw said. "But sometimes I have to accept that criticism is part of football. I listened, and actually, he was right. In the derby, I didn't play to my usual standard."
However, Shaw also stated he doesn't need reminding when he underperforms. "After the match, I knew I had played poorly," he added. "The most important thing is to understand how good you can be. The manager knows that, and previous managers knew it too. I've always been trusted, always been in the team, meaning they see something in me."
At 30, Shaw is aware his career is not endless and he needs to maintain consistency. "I know I can play more consistently," the defender, who has been with Manchester United for 11 years, said. "That's why the defeat against Manchester City hurt me even more. But I will accept it, listen, and move on."
The victory against Chelsea helped alleviate some of the pressure on Manchester United. In that match, both teams were reduced to 10 men in the thu nhat half when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and midfielder Casemiro were sent off. Despite leading by two goals, manager Ruben Amorim's team had to withstand a late onslaught in the rainy conditions.
"In the second half, we were just thinking about surviving and doing everything to win. We knew the importance of these three points," Shaw added. "We need to believe we can win every game we go into."
Born in 1995, Shaw joined Southampton's academy at the age of 7. He stayed with the south coast club until the summer of 2014, before joining Manchester United for 40 million USD. The defender has twice been named Manchester United's Player of the Season, in 2019 and 2021. At the international level, he scored in the Euro 2020 final and also started in the Euro 2024 final despite having recently recovered from injury.
Compiled by Hoang An
