Manchester United defender Luke Shaw admits that Manchester City’s Treble-winning exploits hurt everyone at Old Trafford – and that they cannot afford to let it happen again.
United failed to prevent City from repeating their historic accomplishment of defeating their local rivals in the FA Cup final in 1999.
The next week, Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Inter Milan in the Champions League final, and the presence of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Kalvin Phillips into the England camp only served to emphasize the magnitude of what had occurred.
“It was excruciatingly painful. “A lot,” Shaw remarked.
“Seeing them come to the England camp made us all feel that way, especially me.” It was quite difficult to bear. That cannot happen again.
“It’s now our time to start putting our stamp on things and not allowing it to always be so easy for them because in the past, it appeared that way.”
“As players, we can’t accept that anymore.”
‘The culture has changed’
Shaw was signed by Louis van Gaal in 2014 in a £27 million move, making him the fourth most expensive defender in the world at the time. Following the summer departure of David de Gea, Shaw is now the longest-serving member of United’s first-team squad.
Shaw acknowledged to the media in San Diego during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States that his new position has taken some getting used to.
“It does feel very strange,” he admitted. “I don’t think I’ve been here that long. It was gone in an instant.”
United has won four titles in those nine years: one FA Cup, one Europa League, and two EFL Cups.
“Of course, it’s not enough,” Shaw replied. “I understand. I believe the entire club is aware of this.
“To be successful, we must compete for every trophy and win competitions.”
“We felt like we could have added another two competitions last season, and I think we should have.”
United finished Erik ten Hag’s first season in command with a solitary piece of silverware after losing to City and Sevilla in the Europa League.
Only Jose Mourinho has won more than one cup since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, and United has only won trophies in consecutive seasons once.
Yet, based on the intensity with which he approaches the job, the efficient use of time he makes, and the demands he places on his players, Ten Hag gives the impression of being someone who can, at the very least, resurrect United as a major title contender, something they took for granted during the Ferguson era.
“The culture has changed,” Shaw explained. “It’s the attitude, the way we train, the intensity, and the application that everyone brings in on a daily basis.”
“Every day, the manager demands that.” He wants you to be your best even when you’re at home. He wants you to be doing the right things and living the right way, because football is our life – it’s what we do every day – and we need to do everything we can to reach our full potential.”
With De Gea’s departure and the signing of Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, United are facing substantial goalkeeping turnover for the first time during Shaw’s tenure at Old Trafford.
It is still unclear where De Gea will finish up after his contract with United expires.
