OUR FUTURE IS SHAW LOOKING BRIGHT

Luke: Confident Reds heading back to the top

LUKE SHAW is convinced Manchester United are heading back to the top of English football.

United are brimming with confidence following Sunday’s 2-0 win over neighbours Manchester City at Old Trafford.

It was their first Premier League double over City since 2010.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have beaten City three times in league and cup this season and are on an unbeaten run of 10 games.

They are fifth in the table, firmly in the race for Champions League qualification and are still in the Europa League and FA Cup. The unbeaten run is the second longest since Solskjaer took charge – and Shaw (left) believes all the signs point towards United returning to greatness.

He said: “At the start with Ole, emotions got too much and we didn’t maintain that and this time we’re in a different position.

“We’re probably more experienced with it now, because it was very disappointing the way we dropped off and that’s not Manchester United.

“We need to keep the standards high. I’m sure the boss and the coaches will keep pushing, but also us as players we need to push each other.

“We’re still in two cup competitions and the top four is still very much alive, so we’ve got to keep putting the pressure on.

“We’ve got to try not to focus on other teams. We need to just focus on us and confidence is high. We’re shutting up shop again, keeping clean sheets, which is very positive.

“I have no doubt we can finish the season really strong.”

Shaw believes putting City to the sword is a statement of intent – and reckons United wanted it more than Pep Guardiola’s flops. He added: “The result was so important. Not just the points, but the magnitude of the game and how big it is to everyone in this city.

“Maybe we wanted it more. I felt like we did. I’m very proud of the team and we need to keep focused now because we’re back in training and we’ve got a very big game on Thursday against Lask in the Europa League.”

Shaw says the arrival of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon has given the club a lift.

He said: “Bruno’s been brilliant so far and he’s already come in with a few assists and important goals. Long may that continue.

“We will keep pushing him, because there’s so much more to come.”