Pranav Nair
Rio Ferdinand reckons Luke Shaw deserves praise for rekindling his Manchester United career
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand presents Five on Youtube, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has lavished praise on Red Devils star Luke Shaw.
The English international is enjoying a resurgent season that has seen him return to his best at Old Trafford. He was once again impressive at the weekend and scored in our 2-0 win over Manchester City.
With one goal and six assists in just 32 games, this is Shaw’s most prolific season at United. With a number of games still to come, he could go on to add to that impressive tally. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Ferdinand was keen to illustrate how far the player has come since being consigned to the bun by former manager Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese tactician was scathing of the 25-year-old, who was both out of shape and form.
“Jose Mourinho when he was there, absolutely discarded him. The kid was a broken man.”
The player has experienced better fortune under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and has now fulfilled the faith put in him by the Norwegian. The fact that he could rise above the mental stress he was put under, showcases his ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment.
“This was a kid who was broken down mentally, it seemed, it looked like he was on the scrap heap at United.”
Living up to expectations!
United signed Shaw from Southampton in 2014 for a whopping £27m. Just 18, he was the fourth most expensive defender in football history at that point. (h/t BBC)
Now 25, it is fair to say that Shaw finally looks like the player United thought he would develop into. Yet to enter his prime, there is more to come from the English international.
Ferdinand has gone on to compare Shaw to his former teammate Patrice Evra. The Frenchman is arguably our best left-back this century and was a part of a number of formidable sides under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I think Luke Shaw is very similar. Between the boxes, Patrice was the best left-back of our generation.”
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The signing of Alex Telles last summer appears to have lit a fire under Shaw. He has since stepped up massively and raised the bar needed for the Brazilian to overcome.
The fact that Telles is unable to get into the starting line-up is in no way due to his deficiencies but because of Shaw’s imperious performances.
