Shaw concerned United will miss out on top-four
Luke Shaw sees Champions League qualification slipping out of Manchester United’s fingers unless performances and results improve quickly.
Having bowed out of the FA Cup on penalties to Middlesbrough and been held at Premier League strugglers Burnley, the Red Devils managed to blow a lead to draw 1-1 for the third time in nine days on Saturday lunchtime.
SouthamptonwerethelatestsidetofrustrateUnitedand could have even snatched victory at Old Trafford after Che Adamsimpressivelycancelled out Jadon Sancho’s opener.
“I think history is sort of repeating itself, really,” England left-back Shaw said after the1-1drawagainsthisformer club.
“The first 30 minutes we were good. We created chances, we felt on top, we got the crowd behind us. We were aggressive, everything was good and we score…and then the same scenario again.
“We go into half-time. We speak about it, we say we need to start bright, we know we need to with what has been happening and they score earlyandit’sjustanuphilltask from then.
“I think because we’ve beeninthatsituationsomany times, maybe the confidence dropsandthecomposuregoes and we struggle.”
Shaw concedes the issue might be psychological for a group that have played more
matches than some other teams in the top-four race.
“We can keep saying it all the time but it’s not good enough,” he said.
“We need to improve fast. We need to get results. The most important thing is results and points. Where we want to be, what we want to achieve for the rest of the season, if we keep dropping points, we’re not going to get into the Champions League.”
Such comments have been made by United players throughout a demoralising
season for all those connected to the club.
Ralf Rangnick’s side have an unenviable schedule coming up, with a trip to rivals Leeds following after Tuesday’s Old Trafford clash with Brighton.
“It’s obviously a massive game on Tuesday against Brighton, so full focus needs to be on that,” Shaw added.
“We know we will have the fans behind us and of course it’suptoustodoitonthepitch.
“The training’s going well. We know what we need to do
when we get on the pitch, so it’sdowntousasplayerswhen we’re on that pitch to give everything that we can and win that game because, like I said, we need to win.”
Southampton get to enjoy a week’s preparation to their next game at home to Everton buoyed by the point at Old Trafford and Wednesday’s thrilling 3-2 triumph at Tottenham.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men have this week all but extinguishedanytalkofarelegation battle and Kyle Walker-Peters islookingtopushupthetable.
“We’re very satisfied with the result and that’s four points this week, which we’re really happy with,” he said.
“Ithinkitshowshowconfident we are and it’s important we maintain that and we can’t let that standard drop now.
“We’ve set the standards high and we need to keep it, keep pushing and keep trying to climb the table.
“A draw against City, a win againstTottenhamandadraw here,itshowswecancompete with the top teams.”