Luke Shaw to compete for Mourinho’s approval
By Wyatt Miner
Despite having a rather underwhelming 2016/17 season, Luke Shaw is turning to the new Premier League season; aiming to fall in favor with Jose Mourinho.
When Luke arrived at Manchester United in 2014, he was projected to be one of the best left-backs in Premier League football. Unfortunately, the English defender has not quite lived up to expectations. Because of this, Shaw has fallen out of favor under Jose Mourinho. However, there is a chance that he could make the team sheet.
The 2017/18 season is underway, and now is the best time to compete for starting positions. The young Englishman, among many other players, is fighting for Mourinho’s praise. The left-back had a rather underwhelming season last year. The former Southampton man, rarely made appearances, and when he did, it was not for long.
Whenever he took the pitch, he made the best of his opportunities:
There is no doubt that Luke Shaw has the potential to be great, but Shaw’s stats simply do not project greatness (on paper). When he was in action, he only maintained a 50% tackle success rate. To be precise, there are midfielders that had better luck defending against opposition. Surely, if Shaw received more playing time, these stats would improve, but this seems unlikely under Mourinho.
What are the odds of Luke Shaw securing a starting position?
While he may be out of favor, there is still a possibility that he could break into the first team. The young defender needs to call on the skills that got him there in the first place. Clearly, Mourinho has his favorites, but the left-back position is still very much up for grabs.
Time after time, Mourinho has put Daley Blind in at left-back, but is that truly who Mourinho wants in that position? Luke Shaw has to come to training ready to prove that he is who deserves to start in that position. After all, an in-form Luke Shaw can be dangerous to opposition.
Next: Martial: We want to win the Premier League.
Ultimately, Luke Shaw is the only one in control of his destiny. It is up to him to prove to the boss that he deserves to be on that field; game after game. Manchester United supporters have a lot to be excited about for the new season. Will Luke Shaw excite the expansive football world?