Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has now sent a message to fans setting the record straight over one thing he’d gotten stick for.
The 2023-24 season was a frustrating season for Manchester United and England left-back Luke Shaw, with injury problems preventing him from playing much of the campaign.
He joined fellow left-back Tyrell Malacia who was only spotted once all season, that being at Wembley where he appeared to collect a medal.
This left Erik ten Hag with no natural option and Players’ Player of the Year Diogo Dalot to fill in and while he excelled, it’s still an annoying situation.
But with the season now over, Shaw has sent the fans a message, clarifying one situation in the process.
Luke Shaw sends Manchester United fans a message
After his frustrating season, Shaw sent the fanbase a message on his Instagram and addressed one thing specifically.
“Happy for the boys to lift the trophy at the weekend and finish this season on a positive. As much as it was the result I wanted it was hard to watch from the stands.
“This has definitely been the most frustrating season for me, I have had set back after set back and have worked so hard to get back to fitness but things just haven’t gone my way. I pushed so hard to get back before the end of the season and the final but some things just aren’t meant to be.
“There’s nothing I want to do more than play and win with @manchesterunited I don’t normally react to things I see on social media but there’s a lot of people questioning my loyalty to this club and asking how I am fit for England but not United. The reality is I am not 100% fit for either right now but I am doing everything I can and constantly working to be. I have been at this club for 10 years through highs and lows and for anyone to question my loyalty is obviously frustrating.
“I appreciate I haven’t updated you all with my injuries and where I’m at with my recovery but equally the most important thing to me is that we’re supporting the team playing. My biggest focus right now is being fit and then whatever happens this summer I will be ready. Thank you for your patience.”
This message sets a lot of things straight and gives us an insight into just how frustrating a season he’s had behind the scenes.
When fit, there are few better than Shaw at what he does but the issue is he’s just not been fit and going into next season a left back is needed to cover for a potential injury to Shaw at some point.
Ian Maatsen would be the perfect left-back this summer
A left-back is one of the four positions that Fabrizio Romano said United wanted to strengthen this summer, and Shaw’s injury woes are likely to be a deciding factor in this.
If a left-back is targetted this summer, United should look no further than Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen who is gearing up for the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund where he’s thrived on loan.
Maatsen would cost at least £35m and it’d be a battle to convince him to come to Old Trafford over remaining at Dortmund, but it’d be worth the effort.
He possesses the technical and tactical ability to play the role and mimic what Shaw brings to the team when he’s available.
So United should look no further this summer than Maatsen to support and eventually displace Shaw.