I deserved to be dropped... now I have to kick on
RUTHLESS TEN HAG HAS GIVEN SHAW NEW FOCUS
LUKE SHAW says he has to banish the inconsistency in form and fitness that has held him back for club and country.
The Manchester United and England left-back admitted he has failed to string together long enough periods of fitness and focus.
But having returned to form and favour at United after six games on the bench, he insisted that at 27, now is the time to start delivering.
“I’m at that age that it’s about time I start being more consistent,” he said. “Over the years I’ve had a lot of ups and down.
“That’s not good enough and not what I want to be achieving. It’s all about consistency and I need to keep training hard, keep the focus and give everything I can for the team.”
Shaw, who looks a certainty for the World Cup squad, has credited Erik ten Hag for focusing his mind.
The United manager dropped Shaw after two poor performances at the start of the season, leaving him out for six games until the Manchester derby.
“The good thing with this manager, this gaffer, is that if you’re not playing well then you won’t play,” he said.
“In the past that’s not been the case but the good thing about this manager is that he’s keeping everyone on their toes.
“He makes sure that everyone is 100 percent every day. If you’re not at it, you won’t play. We all know that and that’s a positive thing.” Shaw said Ten Hag did not feel the need to explain to him about his non-selection, leaving him instead to plot his own path back to favour. “I didn’t really need him to say anything to me. I knew. I knew the first two games were nowhere near good enough,” said Shaw. “I completely understood that it was my time to come out of the team. The results were bad, my performances were not good enough. I just had to keep training hard every day and bide my time because the team were doing well.”
United’s goalless draw with Newcastle on Sunday was disappointing after five wins in their previous six Premier League games. They must try to bounce back against Tottenham at Old Trafford tomorrow, and that is followed by a trip to Chelsea on Saturday.
“In games like this at home to Newcastle we have to win,” said Shaw.
“We know that and it was the start of a big week with three games.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we have to put it behind us and we have a big game against Spurs. We have to win that.”