During Manchester United's FA cup quarter final victory over Brighton and Hove Albion, Luke Shaw was critiscised by Jose Mourinho for his performance, in the first half before being substituted during the break.
"Luke – I cannot say much more," said the Portuguese, who has gone on record with his criticism of the 22-year-old England player before. "It is a relation with personality. It is a relation to trust, it is a relation to class.
"My reason [to withdraw Shaw] was we work on the pitch a certain kind of movements, the two full-backs need to be really aggressive and always in front to make space for Matic and Scott [McTominay] to play in front of the two central defenders.
"And I didn't have that with Luke or with Antonio Valencia. I didn't change both because it was too aggressive to do it and then I have only one more change to 90 minutes.
"And then if we go to extra-time I have the possibility of a fourth change. But to do 45 minutes with only one more change, I think that would have been too aggressive.
"But to try to improve our offensive football and be more aggressive I have to change one. I decided Luke because at least Antonio, defensively, was capable of some good positioning.
"Like in one of their more dangerous movements in the second half, [Jurgen] Locadia made a dangerous run inside Eric Bailly and Antonio is still capable of [defending] this.
"Luke, in the first half, every time they went in his corridor the cross was coming and a dangerous situation was coming, so I was not happy with the performance."
According to many sources the team was surprised of Jose's treatment of Shaw, and I am too surprised by it. Was it the same Jose who had praised Luke at the new year?
Shaw has been largely unsuccessful, due to bad form, injuries and to some extent bad luck, he didn't get much minutes in top form, or against top teams with Darmian starting at Anfield, Young starting against City, and both the Chelsea games.
Shaw enjoyed a brief renaissance before coming under fire line once again, with many fans calling for his head, now.
Many questions arise, regarding Luke Shaw, out of which, I'll try to answer few.
1) Does Shaw have the quality?
Well, it's a no brainer, Shaw does have the quality and class to make it big in any team he plays for, it was recognized in his early days, as he was selected over Ashley Cole, for that ill fated English challenge of World Cup of 2014.
He was subject to a massive bid war, between JOSE'S Chelsea and LVG's United, with the latter winning the duel.
Is early days, and his New Year rennaisance has showed his quality, yet again.
2) What has happened that Shaw has lost his starting XI spot?
So what has happened here, that the player Jose so desperately wanted to sign while at Chelsea, is unwanted by him at Old Trafford?
Shaw started his career on a high, but his horrific leg injury against PSV, ended his honeymoon early.
Let's push forward a season.
Van Gaal is no longer at the club, new manager Jose Mourinho is appointed, he doesn't find the LB fit, or when fit, fitting to his style, he gives him a chance Shaw failes to impress, and when he gets another, Shaw leaves the game 10 minutes into the game, after the injury.
United win Europa that season, qualify for Champions League, and Jose resurrects Ashley Young, as he wants more crosses in the box, considering the physical dominance of his team. Shaw gets a run of matches in that period, but as soon as big fixtures come, Shaw is facing sidelines again, due to Jose choosing Young over him, and then comes Brighton game, which may spell end of him.
3) Can Shaw charter back his way to starting XI?
Yes, he definitely can, with his performances in few matches, he has convinced Jose to at least keep him on the bench, and few more of those matches and performances he'll definitely be a regular.
4) What can work in his favor to win back favor of Jose?
With the league all but gone, United knocked out of the Champions League, and only two fixtures left against the teams in "Big Six", I can see Shaw getting more minutes, if he manages to hold on to his minutes, and perform well, which he'll certainly do, he can definitely show his worth again.
5) How does he line up against "future" signings?
United have been rumored to go after Alex Sandro, Danny Rose and Jordi Alba.
Jordi Alba and Alex Sandro, have become one of the world's best in the last couple of seasons, and are unlikely to come, but even if they do come, what's the guarantee they'll performan in the Premier League?
They both are 26-28, and have only 3-4 years left at top levels. Shaw may not be of their levels currently but is a proven player in the league and has around 10-12 seasons left in him.
Danny Rose: The lad is a mystery to me, he has been dropped by Pochettino at Spurs, and hasn't played many games and has become second fiddle to Ben Davies, and neither has the quality of Sandro or Alba, has the experience of Premier League, but has very less time on his side, and practically no Champions League experience which Jose is looking for.
My overall belief is that, Shaw needs consistent game time and he'll be one of the best ever.
6) What do United teammates think of him?
Manchester United's stars had been left aghast at Jose Mourinho's management after his public shaming of Luke Shaw.
The United squad were dumbfounded by the treatment of Shaw, who looks set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The United legend Scholes told BT Sport on Shaw: "I still believe he could be the best in the world and in the summer he could go to Tottenham or somewhere and he could improve.
"I couldn't see a difference between him and [Ashley] Young [against Brighton].
"I think sometimes, managers get in their head that there's a player not for them
"For me, I think he could be brilliant but his manager will still find something wrong with him.
"It is disappointing because when Luke Shaw came you thought what a player that is and he could be the best.
"It's a relationship that come the summer will end. It keeps going on and on but he isn't playing games."
As I end my article, I would like to say, to all United fans, I respect your opinion, but according to me,
Shaw is the best thing this United team is going to get, and he'll be a natural heir to Evra, if he stays.
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