Shaw was heavily criticised after United‘s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, where he was at fault for two goals. Keane slammed his display and pointed to his long history of injuries since joining the club in 2014. The left-back, however, responded with a much-improved performance in the Red Devils’ 2-1 win over Chelsea, where he set up Casemiro‘s decisive goal.
“I think sometimes you just have to take it on the chin,” Shaw said. “He’s got a lot of experience. He was one of the best captains ever for Man United. Of course it hurts. I think criticism is part of being a football player. I listen to it. But for me, I think he was right. I think that last week, I wasn’t at my level at all. I don’t need Roy Keane to tell me. I think after the game, I knew that. I knew that, but of course it hurts.
“I’m not getting any younger now and I need to be consistent. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but for me now, it’s about keeping that consistency at a high level. I know I can do that. The most important thing is knowing how good I can be. The manager knows that. I think the managers who I played with in the past know that. I’m always in the team and I’m always playing, so there must be something that the managers believe in.
“Last week hurt me a lot, because that’s not my level. And I think the criticism is what people understand. But like I said, I take it on the chin and listen to it and move on.”
Shaw’s words highlight his determination to avoid slipping into old habits and prove his worth to United boss Ruben Amorim. Injuries have disrupted much of his Manchester United career, but the full-back is currently enjoying a run of starts in a new role at centre-back. With United struggling for consistency, Shaw’s leadership and reliability could be vital in the weeks ahead.
United will hope Shaw stays fit and continues to build rhythm after several stop-start seasons. He will be in line for a key role again in Amorim’s plans for United’s next two games against Brentford and newly-promoted Sunderland.
