Starting Luke Shaw was a correct decision, insists Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, despite being substituted in the first half due to an ongoing injury.
Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair and Luke Shaw, how old are they? So when you play against a team like Arsenal... you have to have communication.
The defender was initially casted as a doubt following a knock obtained on international duty, but an encouraging training session led to the in-form defender being called up by the Dutchman.
With the Red Devils securing a pivotal 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Shaw’s former Southampton teammate – made a hasty challenge on the left-back just 15 minutes into the game. As the 19-year-old endeavoured to continue playing, Ashley Young replaced Shaw minutes later as he continued to struggle with the knock.
However, van Gaal has confirmed he feels he made the right decision in starting Shaw, in full knowledge of his difficulty when England visited Scotland on Tuesday. The Dutchman said:
“I am convinced that I made the right decision. This is the life of a manager, the result is always giving you the reason or not [to pick these players]. I cannot do other things because I don't have so many players.
“Shaw has come back from internationals not fit enough so we made him fit, but then he gets injured again. Then I have to give Young a game but Young is not fit enough to play 90 minutes. I have said this before. Then I have to change the line-up again.
“I think the players have done fantastic. Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair and Luke Shaw, how old are they? So when you play against a team like Arsenal, a team that are always changing position, you have to have communication. I think that is pretty good, but I was not pleased with the overall performance.”
Shaw has made seven appearances for the Red Devils this season, managing 537 minutes of football despite a wealth of injury scares; with only Marcos Rojo and Tyler Blackett featuring more within the defensive lines.