Shaw to make Manchester United return in Champions League

After watching the win over Watford from home, Luke Shaw is in line to start when Manchester United opens its Champions League campaign.

Published : Sep 16, 2018 10:52 IST

Luke Shaw sat out the win against Watford, with Ashley Young deputised at left-back.
Luke Shaw sat out the win against Watford, with Ashley Young deputised at left-back.
lightbox-info

Luke Shaw sat out the win against Watford, with Ashley Young deputised at left-back.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed Luke Shaw will return from his concussion lay-off in the Champions League clash with Young Boys on Wednesday.

Shaw, who sustained a head knock while on England duty last weekend, sat out the 2-1 win at Watford despite being cleared to feature by United's medical staff. Ashley Young deputised at left-back but will make way in midweek.

"Luke Shaw plays Wednesday. We can't do it with one left-back and Ashley Young is not just a left-back, he's also a right-back," Mourinho told reporters.

"They both are doing well, and they both are different players and I think they both understand that one is a young player and the other one is the experienced one. It's good for us to have these two options, plus [Matteo] Darmian. Darmian is my emergency man, he is always ready for everything."

Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling's first-half goals proved enough for United to bank three crucial points at Vicarage Road as it withstood a fightback following Andre Gray's 65th-minute strike.

READ | Watford 1 Manchester United 2: Lukaku and Smalling end host's 100 per cent start

David de Gea's late heroics made sure of the result, the goalkeeper brilliantly denying Christian Kabasele's header following a free-kick in stoppage time.

"Yes, only one save but a fantastic save," Mourinho said of the Spain international.

"In some matches you don't touch the ball, in some matches you are just somebody that is watching the game, but in the right moment you have to be there. And today his moment was that save in the last minutes, so good for him and for us."

 

The Portuguese, however, was not prepared to offer an opinion on the red card Nemanja Matic received for a second bookable offence prior to De Gea's stop.

"They only thing I know is that [referee] Mike Dean was very good, the assistants were very good and [fourth official] Paul Tierney on the touchline was very good too. It was an easy job for Paul, because me and Javi [Gracia] didn't create any problems, but they did a very good job and if it is a yellow or not, I don't know. It's too far for me [to see]," he said.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment