‘He’s A Long Way Behind’ – Man Utd Boss Jose Mourinho Openly Criticises Luke Shaw Over Poor Commitment, Ambition And Focus

Chris Wright

3rd, April 2017

3 Comments

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Having made just eight Premier League appearances so far this season, it’s looking increasingly likely that Luke Shaw isn’t long for Manchester United.

Now, Jose Mourinho has given the most explicit signal yet that the perennially unfancied £30million left-back’s tenure at Old Trafford may be coming to an end.

Indeed, despite his defensive ranks being ravaged by suspension and injury, Mourinho still stated that there is next to no chance Shaw will even make the bench for Tuesday evening’s game against Everton, largely because of his lapse attitude.

It is difficult for him to be on the bench. I cannot compare him with Ashley Young, with Matteo Darmian, with Daley Blind.

I cannot compare the way he trains, the way he commits, the focus, the ambition. I cannot compare.

He is a long way behind.

The writing, as they say, is on the wall. Not that he was exactly flying before hand, but that hideous broken leg (and subsequent 10-month recovery) really derailed Shaw’s career – perhaps understandably.

However, that’s now Mauricio Pochettino (Southampton), Roy Hodgson (England) and both Louis van Gaal and Mourinho (United) who have all criticised Shaw’s fitness and/or motivation in some regard, both pre- and post- injury.

Psychologically, a fresh start somewhere far away is long overdue for and, by the sound of it, that’s exactly what he’s going to get at the first available opportunity.

Posted in Man Utd, Newsnow, Transfers & Rumours

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3 Comments

  1. Bruno says:

    If I was Mourinho I would keep him for the next season and try again, just because he’s got so much talent. But unfortunatelly I think Shaw is a lost cause… at least in a big club.
    What I think is strange is that Blind is not first choice at left back. He’s a great player, complete, good at everything and reliable. Jose is going for Rojo and Darmian instead of Blind, that’s a bit odd to me as I think Blind is one of the very few positives from the LVG era.

    *Valencia / Bailly / Jones / Blind* this is a good defensive line.

    • Geraldo says:

      @Bruno – Valencia, for all his consistent displays this season (and last), is not a right back. And that back line may be good but it’s not exceptionally good, which is what United need if they’re ever going to be considered as genuine contenders for the big honours again. Mourinho needs at least one world class centre back to play alongside Bailly and a proper right back. The likes of Smalling, Rojo Darmian and Blind are not consistently good enough to be automatic selections (although Rojo continues to improve) and Jones is and always will be a liability with his fitness issues. I for one would give Fosu-Mensah a run in the side – he has definite potential.

      • Bruno says:

        @Geraldo — I agree regarding the center back. United need someone better to partner Bailly if the objective is (must be) to compete with the best teams in the world. The current defensive line is good but not great, that’s true. But I think Valencia is now a proper right back and should stay there. Probably one of the best around, I can’t see a better one.

        United need someone great to partner Bailly but also one or two very good defenders to replace Smalling and Darmian, that’s for sure – I also think they are just not good enough, even for the bench.

        Rojo, Blind and Jones, I like them. Jones has innumerous fitness issues but on his day he can be very good. I think if Mourinho can get 4 or 5 or 6 months of football from Jones per season, is valid to keep him. I think in some occasions Jones could be used specifically to mark a fantastic player, like Ronaldo or Messi or whatever. Sir Alex used to do that.

        But….. if the forward players were scoring the goals they should score, United would be second in the league and we would say one or two more signings would put United close to best teams in Europe. The main issue is probably the midfield and attack, as strange as it may seems.

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