Manchester United Star Defender Reveals The New Team Great Transformation Key Points
Manchester United Star Defender Reveals The New Team Great Transformation Key Points.
It is obvious the brutal way Erik ten Hag has dealt with underperformers at Manchester United so far this season has been a welcome change.
Luke Shaw was dropped from the United side after poor performances in the opening two matches of the season and was replaced by Dutch full-back Malacia.
The 27-year-old started again for United in their goalless draw with Newcastle at the weekend after working his way back into the side following the summer signing of Tyrell Malacia.
The England international has responded well to the new challenge for his starting position, and he thinks Ten Hag should also get credit for sparking such a tough battle for spots when in the past many underperforming players held their place regardless of recent performance level.
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When asked if he was happy with his current form, Shaw told reporters: “Yes but I think the most important thing is the team. Whenever I get a chance, whenever I play, I just do my best.
“The good thing about this manager, this gaffer, is that if you’re not playing well, then you won’t play. In the past, that’s not been the case, but I think the good thing about this manager is that he’s keeping everyone on their toes.
“He makes sure that everyone is 100% every day. If you’re not at it then you won’t play. That’s a positive thing.”
Shaw credits his renewed energy to consistency rather than any particular area under Ten Hag’s treatment.
When asked what had changed for him in recent weeks, he added: “To be honest, I didn’t really need him to say anything to me. I knew. I knew the first two games were nowhere near good enough. I completely understood that it was my time to come out of the team. The results were bad. My performances were not good enough.
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“I just had to keep training hard every day in training so the manager could see I was training hard. I was just waiting for my opportunity and had to bide my time because the team was doing well and we were winning.
“You can’t moan. I just had to be there every day with the team, being involved and helping the team, whether that is starting or being on the bench.
Luke Shaw has hailed teammate Lisandro Martinez after his ‘unbelievable’ start to life at Manchester United this season. United agreed to a £56.7m fee with Ajax to sign the Argentine center-back on a five-year deal during the summer as Erik ten Hag looked for fresh competition in central defense.
Martinez has already established himself as a key figure in the first-team squad this season, playing in all 13 matches under Ten Hag, with all but one of them being starts.
The 24-year-old has won supporters over with his aggressive and enthusiastic playing style, but most of all, with the excellent defensive attributes he brings to the backline.
His impact on the left side of United’s defense has also been felt by those who play alongside him at left-back, with Shaw a huge fan of the summer signing.
“(He has been) unbelievable, to be honest,” Shaw told reporters after United’s draw with Newcastle. “You can see everyone loves him. The fans love him.
“His left foot is unbelievable. I think it always helps when you play with a left-footer on the side because he naturally likes to come out to that side, and I think he has fitted in really well. Of course, he can keep getting better and better, but for me so far, he has been unbelievable this season.
“He needs to keep that up. His aggression, his passion, we need him in that backline. He brings that every game. I am really pleased to have him on the team.”
