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Topics: Luke Shaw, Roy Keane, Man Utd, Premier League
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Luke Shaw, Roy Keane, Man Utd, Premier League
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has been praised for his response to Roy Keane's ruthless criticism of his performance in the Manchester derby.
It was an afternoon to forget for Shaw, who was singled out by Keane in the aftermath of United's 3-0 defeat to City as he mentioned his poor positioning for Phil Foden's first-half opener.
"Shaw for the first goal," he said on Sky Sports. "He is an international footballer. For him to get caught out like that... I think Shaw has been getting away with murder for years at United. Always injured, never quite fit."
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Keane added: "We make excuses, then he gets a few games under his belt, then he's making decisions like he doesn't even want to tackle people."
Ruben Amorim, on the other hand, is a big admirer of Shaw, who has started in all five of United's Premier League games this season following an injury-plagued couple of years.
A week after Keane's comments and Shaw has admitted the former United midfielder was right. "I think people have opinions," Shaw said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
"Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin. He’s got a lot of experience, he was one of the best captains ever for Manchester United and, of course, it hurts. But for me criticism is part of being a football player. I listen to it but I think he was right.
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"Last week, I wasn’t at my level at all and I don’t need Roy Keane to tell me. After the game, I knew that. But of course it hurts. The most important thing is knowing how good I can be and I think the manager knows that and the managers who I played under in the past know that.
"I’m always in the team, I’m always playing, so there must be something the managers [see and] must believe in me. I’m not getting any younger and I need to be consistent, I’ve had lots of ups and downs and it’s about keeping that consistently high level because I know I can do that."
"And that’s why last week hurt me a lot because I know that’s not my level and I think the criticism is completely understandable," added Shaw. "I take it on the chin and listen to it and I move on."
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Shortly after the derby and Keane's former teammate Paul Scholes was also scathing in his criticism of Shaw.
“You think of the injuries Shaw has had. He must have the body of a 40-year-old man because he’s had that many injuries and missed that much football," the former midfielder told SPORTbible.
"If he’d stayed fit, he could’ve been the best left-back in the world. Now, he’s playing left-sided centre-half. He really shouldn’t be at the club anymore. He should have left along with Harry Maguire in the summer," continued Scholes. "United should have brought in one or two new centre-halves."