Luke Shaw returned to the Manchester United starting line-up for the Carabao Cup semi-final after shaking off an illness.
Shaw had missed the first leg and then the FA Cup fourth round win over Reading.
The defender had a comfortable night at the back against Nottingham Forest, with United winning 2-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate.
Shaw was strong on the pitch, but it was his post-match comments which really resonated and showed an understanding of the situation.
Luke Shaw makes statement
Luke Shaw had a solid night in defence for United, winning one tackle and winning three interceptions, and two aerial duels.
On the ball Shaw managed to completed 97 per cent of his passes, 65 of 67 attempts, and made 106 touches in total.
After the game to Sky Sports, Shaw gave an interview when he was not in self-congratulatory mood, instead focusing on the job ahead.
Shaw said: “I think there’s no point going to a final if you don’t win it.
“We want to get this club back to where it should be which is winning trophies. Newcastle are an extremely good team but it’s a big moment for us in where we want to go.”
Shaw speaks as a player who understands the magnitude of the moment. He has had bad injury luck keeping him out of United’s previous final successes and misses during his time at the club.
He missed United’s last trip to Wembley, the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea in 2020, due to an injury.
He knows the journey United are on, and what a huge moment it would be to win the trophy. But a defeat will turn it into a very unhappy day.
Shaw is right to take nothing for granted. A very long 90 minutes, potentially plus extra-time and penalties, will await.
Ten Hag backs Shaw up
Speaking separately, Erik ten Hag told the club website: “It’s great. Finals, you play them to win. It’s not an achievement to come into a final.
“We want to win. First, we have other things to do, and come back to the Premier League. I told the players as well, you have to bring it every game.”
source:unitedinfocus
