Aheed Abrar
Luke Shaw admits Manchester United not keen on the Europa League ahead of Real Sociedad tie
Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has admitted that the club are not keen on playing in the Europa League. The England international wants the club to be in the Champions League.
The Red Devils sit in second place in Group E of the UEL. While the club have qualified for the next round, a win against La Real would take the Old Trafford side to the top of the table.
Speaking on the club’s official website (h/t Manchester Evening News), Shaw reveals United have higher expectations than being in the second-tier competition of European club football.
“Of course first and foremost we don’t want to be in the Europa League we want to be in the Champions League.”
United have won every single game in the UEL this season except the loss to the side from the Basque Country in our first encounter of the group stage. However, it was a bitter defeat, as many fans felt the penalty decision against us was harsh.
Since then, the Red Devils have beaten Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia Nicosia twice to secure qualification from the group. However, the second-placed team in the group will have to compete against sides dropping from the Champions League in the playoffs to go to the round of 16.
And sides like Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen could be waiting for the Red Devils if they are not able to beat La Real on Thursday (3 November) at Reale Arena. However, Shaw is relishing the opportunity to play against the top teams.
“But I think you look at the Champions League teams that as well that are maybe dropping out it would obviously grow a bit, a bit of a step up when they drop in so I think that’s good for us, you want to be playing against the best teams and, of course, we are in the competition.”
Since the start of the campaign, United have done well under Erik ten Hag to find their feet. We are on an unbeaten run of eight games. The last fixture the Red Devils lost was the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
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It will be interesting to see how the Old Trafford side fare against tougher European competition later down in the UEL. Hopefully, we can make our way to Budapest and lift the coveted trophy at the Puskas Arena.
