Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has suggested that Luke Shaw will once again start at centre-back when the Red Devils face Barcelona on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Europa League knockout tie. With Lisandro Martinez missing out due to suspension, Ten Hag has opted to deploy left-back Shaw in the left-centre-back position, with the 27-year-old having surprised many with his great performances there across various games including the Manchester derby win.
At a pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said: “We have many options I think to sort it out. Luke Shaw has played well both at LB and CB. We saw at the weekend [in the 2-0 win at Leeds] he did both. We can choose by game what we prefer.”
Shaw himself admitted that he was not sure yet where he would be playing but expressed excitement for the big game, saying: “To be honest, I’m not sure yet, we will have to wait until the teams are named. Yeah, it’s a big game and one we’re all looking forward to. I think it’s going to be a big test, it will show us where we are. We’re ready for it.”
The England international has endured a difficult start to the season but has since recovered his form to become a key player under Ten Hag. He acknowledged that the team in the first two games was not performing up to their standards but expressed confidence in their growth since then.
The game between two of the most in-form teams in Europe is sure to be an epic tie and is sure to provide insight into just how far Manchester United have come since the start of the season.
