Luke Shaw: ‘I’ve never been out of shape’
Luke Shaw has spoken honestly to his critics regarding his perceived weight and fitness injuries.
Shaw is about to embark on a make or break year at United.
He's already been putting in the hours ahead of pre-season in Dubai, and has told critics that he would prefer his physique was not constantly judged.
"I guess you’ve just got to take it because there is always going to be negative criticism and positive but both of them can make you stronger," he says. "I’ve been unlucky because I’ve had a few ups and downs with different managers but I would say I’ve never been out of shape. Honestly, I feel really good and I’m raring to go, and the minutes [on tour] are only going to help me become fitter."
Shaw has started all of United's games in the US so far.
He is now entering the final year of his contract, which he signed in 2014, arriving at Old Trafford for a fee in excess of £27million from Southampton.
However, his career at the club never really took off as everyone would have expected, and Shaw suffered a few injuries which caused set-backs.
Notably, a broken leg in September 2015 ended his season, and pushed him into a long recovery.
Louis van Gaal, Mourinho's predecessor then branded Shaw as overweight, during their 2014 summer tour to the US.
The overweight tag has proven hard to shed.
"People can say I’m fat but I know my own body," Shaw says. "I always look big because I’m bigger built – I’ve got that Wayne Rooney type of body."
Shaw's pre-pre-season trip to Dubai shows the player's determination to compete for United's starting left-back position.
"I worked hard and not just for them [critics], I’m working harder than ever and in the first game I want to look 10 times better than in that picture."