in , , , , , , ,

“It’s not acceptable”- Manchester United defender gives scathing review of Newcastle loss

Luke Shaw in action for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Luke Shaw in action for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Luke Shaw with a scathing review after Manchester United were humbled by Newcastle

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw bemoans the lack of fight, desire attitude and hunger shown by the Red Devils in a humbling defeat against Newcastle United.

The scoreline says 2-0 in favour of the Magpies, but the contrast in performance levels from both teams deserved to have a heavier score in favour of Eddie Howe’s men.

Erik ten Hag’s United, on the other hand, just could not get going. In fact, they lacked any desire to even try to change the course of the match. It was pretty much one-sided from the first whistle till the last.

Luke Shaw of Manchester United.
Luke Shaw bemoans the lack of everything shown by Manchester United in the Newcastle defeat. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Giving a scathing review of the performance, here’s what Shaw said (h/t Sky Sports):

“I don’t think they won the game on quality today, they won it on passion, desire, hunger, attitude, and they had higher motivation than us and that can’t be possible. I feel I say the same things every time we lose. It’s not acceptable. At Manchester United that can’t be possible.”

Shaw is partly right that the game was not won based on quality, because had Newcastle boasted a little more composure in the final third, they might have scored five or six.

The other worrying aspect is that this was a full-fledged United team, with every big hitter playing except the suspended Casemiro.

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 2, 2023. - Newcastle won the game 2-0.
Erik ten Hag’s men were second-best in everything against Newcastle. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Moreover, the trend of losing away from home against teams in the top half of the table continues. United have already lost to Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Brentford, Aston Villa and now Newcastle away from home. Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton games are still to come.

How can a team with so much to play for in the final stretch of this season show minuscule motivation for a big game? It is not a one-off now, to be honest. Ten Hag has seen his team crumble under pressure away from home many times now.

More Manchester United News:

With big games coming up thick and fast, attitude and fight issues need to be addressed, especially in the tough away games. Can they do it? Ten Hag is probably the right manager to sort these things out.

Written by Mizgan Masani

Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix still on Manchester United radar.

Transfer News: Manchester United will attempt to sign 23-year-old Chelsea loanee

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag speaks with Diogo Dalot.

“Can not happen”- Manchester United star admits Newcastle ‘wanted it more’ after 2-0 loss