Luke Shaw accepts Keane was right but says criticism still hurt

• Luke Shaw accepted Roy Keane’s harsh assessment after the Manchester derby defeat.
• The Manchester United defender admitted the comments “hurt” but said he must be more consistent.
• Shaw responded with an improved performance in the win against Chelsea.

Luke Shaw has admitted that Roy Keane was right to criticise his performance in Manchester United’s derby defeat to City, although he confessed the comments from the former captain still “hurt.”

Keane had said Shaw had been “getting away with murder for years” after the England defender was at fault for two goals in the 3-0 loss at the Etihad Stadium.

Shaw, however, delivered a strong response in United’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, playing a key role in setting up Casemiro’s decisive goal. The 30-year-old said he must become more consistent as one of the club’s senior players.

“I think sometimes you just have to take it on the chin,” Shaw said. “He’s got a lot of experience. He was one of the best captains ever for Man United. Of course it hurts. I think criticism is part of being a football player. I listen to it. But for me, I think he was right. I think that last week, I wasn’t at my level at all. I don’t need Roy Keane to tell me. I think after the game, I knew that. I knew that, but of course it hurts.

“I’m not getting any younger now and I need to be consistent. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but for me now, it’s about keeping that consistency at a high level. I know I can do that.”

During the derby defeat, Shaw allowed Jérémy Doku to beat him before crossing for Phil Foden to score, and he was unable to stop Erling Haaland from doubling City’s lead just after half-time.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane did not hold back in his verdict. “I think Shaw has been getting away with murder for years at United,” he said. “Always injured, never quite fit. We make excuses and then he gets a few games under his belt and then he’s making decisions like he doesn’t even want to tackle people.”

Shaw has battled repeated injuries over the past two years, but after completing a full preseason he has started all five of United’s league games this campaign, often deployed as a left-sided centre-back in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

“The most important thing is knowing how good I can be,” Shaw said. “The manager knows that. I think the managers who I played with in the past know that. I’m not in the team. I’m always in the team and I’m always playing, so there must be something that the managers believe in.

“Last week hurt me a lot, because that’s not my level. And I think the criticism is what people understand. But like I said, I take it on the chin and listen to it and move on.”