 "Manchester United players wear a dejected look after their 0-3 defeat in their Premier League meeting with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 14 September. AP")
0Luke Shaw and his fellow Manchester United defenders have come under fire after the ‘Red Devils’ suffered a 3-0 rout in the ‘Manchester Derby’ on Sunday . United legend Roy Keane accused the 30-year-old of “getting away with murder for years”, while also criticising him for his frequent injuries and lack of fitness.
Ex-Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, however, chose a more empathetic approach, stating that Shaw will continue to get his weakness exploited by elite forwards such as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in upcoming games if he continues to operate out of his preferred position.
“When I look at someone like Luke Shaw, who’s an outstanding full-back… I’ve played against this man, he’s an England international for a reason, one of the best full-backs I’ve ever played against,” Walcott said on the It’s Called Soccer! show.
“And I’ve played against your Ashley Coles, your (Patrice) Evras. He’s up there physically because he knows what he’s doing at left-back because he’s played there for so many years,” he continued.
‘Smart players are going to play on that weakness’
Walcott, who had represented England 47 times between 2006 to 2016, instead questioned United manager Ruben Amorim for his utilisation of Shaw.
“(When) You put him at centre-half, smart players like Erling Haaland are going to play on that weakness. And there’s weaknesses all around there, players that aren’t comfortable and aren’t aware of their surroundings.
“They’re second to everything, there’s a delay in everything because they’re unsure. I would be as well,” he added.
United should continue with Amorim, says Walcott
United began their season with a 0-1 loss against Arsenal at home and were later held to a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Things went from bad to worse with a shock defeat at the hands of League Two club Grimsby Town on penalties that knocked them out of the League Cup in the very first round.
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And just when things were starting to look up for the struggling giants with a 3-2 victory over Burnley, the lopsided defeat at the hands of City came as a reminder as to how much catching up United had to do in terms of their tactics even if they splurged over £200 million during the transfer window.
Despite United’s 15th-place finish last season and the their scratchy start this season, Walcott added that the 20-time English top-flight champions should continue with Amorim as their manager for now.
“For me, it doesn’t work but they have to stick with him because they’ve gone this far, that’s the problem,” he added.