Luke Shaw has opened up on the physical and mental challenges of the past 18 months as he bids to get his Manchester United career back on track.
Shaw looks in good shape on United’s pre-season tour of the US and cut a relaxed figure when he appeared at a kids’ community event in Chicago on Tuesday.
But the 30-year-old England defender admitted that it has been a long road back from a succession of muscle injuries and a ‘horrible’ season in which he reached his lowest point and felt that he let down United managers Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
It began when Shaw limped off at Luton in February last year. It proved to be his last game under Ten Hag and his last for United for nine months, although he was able to return for England’s run to the final of Euro 2024.
Shaw played the first three games under Amorim as a substitute, but was then sidelined for another five months until April as United struggled through their worst season in more than half a century.
‘I couldn’t have got any lower last season,’ says Shaw. ‘It was really tough. For me, I kind of felt like I let Erik down with the injuries and stuff. I wasn’t there for him towards the end, and that wasn’t nice.
Luke Shaw has opened up on the physical and mental challenges of the past 18 months
Shaw has reflected on what was a ‘horrible’ season in which he reached his lowest point
‘Then, also, when the new manager comes in and we speak about different things, different aims for the rest of the season that we had, then I get injured again.
‘A lot of last season I just felt like I let a lot of people down in the club and the team obviously because I was always injured. I might not have been (letting people down), but it was just something in my head where I found it really hard.
‘I just put a lot of blame on myself. I just really felt that I was letting the team down not being available for a long time. It’s something I’ve not experienced to be honest. I know I’ve had a lot of injuries, but it was more mentally how tough it was. It was really tough. I won’t go too much into that.
‘I think last season it was one to forget really. Like I said, I’ve had injuries in the past, but last season it was different kind of injuries.
‘It was horrible. To be fair, it started with a calf and I’ve never had a calf injury in my life, so I was never used to that. It was just a completely different rehab and stuff. Things just kept happening. It was really stressful, but I’m grateful that I’m here now and I feel fit.
‘So, I think right now, I feel really good, really happy with great people around me in the team and a really good manager. I can’t feel any better, to be honest. I’m really happy and I’m really looking forward to this season. I’ve got big ambitions this season, so I’m looking to fulfil them.’
Shaw was grateful for the support of Amorim who described him as ‘world class’ shortly after United touched down in the US last week.
‘It was really nice to hear that, especially from the manager. It was quite unexpected to be fair,’ adds Shaw. ‘He understands the problems I had last season was really tough.
The English defender looks in good shape on United’s pre-season tour of the United States
‘The team and the manager have been really good with me. Especially the manager, he stuck by me. For him saying that is obviously a really nice thing for me after such a difficult year last year.’
Shaw is now United’s longest-serving player after joining from Southampton for £27million in the summer of 2014. He has a contract until 2027 and is just focussed on playing regularly for United again without worrying too much about regaining his England place ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
He wants to be part of an Old Trafford revival under Amorim and believes a club of United’s stature should be aiming to win the title this season.
‘It might sound a bit ridiculous after last season, but we want to be winning the Premier League,’ he insists. ‘We should have those ambitions. Not just me individually, but the whole team. We all have to have the same ambitions and all push for that.
‘It’s Man United and we need to be having those aims. Otherwise, there’s no point in being here, you know? I think it’s the biggest club in the world and it needs to have the biggest ambitions.
‘My main priority now for the club is just staying fit and being available for selection and doing everything I can for that. Because I think if that happens, then England can kind of take care of itself. As long as I’m fit, healthy and doing the right things day in, day out for Man United.
‘I’m not really thinking about England. Especially after last season, I think my main priority now is just staying fit and being available for selection for Ruben. I’m trying to help the team as much as I can.’
