TO MISS one final is unlucky. Two is heartbreaking. Three, you might start wondering if you are in the right trade.But four – no make that FIVE if you want to chuck in a Super Cup – well.
Luke Shaw is determined to make his mark against Villarreal on Wednesday nightCredit: Getty
Well that is Luke Shaw’s back catalogue at Manchester United as he finally looks forward to breaking his duck in the Europa League final against Villarreal in Gdansk on Wednesday.
He said: “There was disappointment with all of them, really.
“In big games at big times are big opportunities to show yourself and I feel like I missed out on them.”
It is a testament to Shaw’s courage, determination and belief that he has picked himself up from those disappointments.
A broken leg that brought his career to a halt for a year ruled him out of the 2016 FA Cup final, an injured foot kept him out the squad for the Europa League final and Super Cup against Real Madrid both in 2017.
For the other two, the 2017 League Cup and 2018 FA Cup, Jose Mourinho simply left him out the whole squad.
He watched the 2017 Europa League final versus Ajax with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, both on crutches, in Stockholm. The last time United lifted silverware.
And Shaw added: “Personally, I was really happy for the squad, for the team, for the fans that season, it was a good season.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
“Being there on crutches, it’s always different. I’m happy for the team to win it but it’s extremely different when you don’t play in it, it’s not the same feeling.
“Hopefully, this time I can be involved and try and help the team and personally for myself, to be involved in the final and win it.”
There is no question about him being involved for United in Poland and with England next month in the Euros.
From looking like his United career was over in 2018, he has enjoyed his best campaign with the Red Devils.
So good that his fellow professionals at United voted him their player of the season.
Shaw credits manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for his revival and his own inner determination.
Off the field he has the support of his parents who travel everywhere to watch him and his partner Anouska Santos, with whom he has an 18-month old son Reign London.
Shaw said: “I’ve always had lots of support around me. What I’ve been through, the stuff I’ve gone through, if I didn’t have the support I did, I would have struggled even more.
“I think my family, my mum and dad, especially, and Anouska have supported me so well with what I’ve been through.
“They’ve obviously seen my struggles and known about them, they’ve been so supportive.
“It’s funny, because even sometimes when I come home, I think she’ll tell me if she doesn’t think I was my normal self in a game.
“She knows me so well now, she knows what needs to be said at different times.
“I had a conversation with my girlfriend before the start of the season on what my aims were going to be and stuff like that and she’s been really good with me, she’s pushed me.
“She’s kept me on a straight path, always reminding me of what I said at the start of the season and what I wanted to achieve.
“Obviously, the benefits of that are showing now. Her and the little one have helped me on the outside of football and it’s nice to know
“You grow up much more when you’ve had a kid. You have to, it’s part of life.”
Hopefully winning the Europa League will start a new success for UnitedLuke Shaw
Shaw has grown into one of the world’s best full-backs right now and at 25 is entering the best years of his career as part of a United team he believes are going places.
It has a balance of youth and experience and with some summer additions he is convinced they can be challenging for the title next season after coming second this campaign.
Shaw said: “The squad we’ve got, it’s so talented. We’ve got a brilliant mix of experienced ones and younger ones. But even the younger ones have played so many times now they’ve got that experience.
“The manager was speaking the other day about how he would like one or two more signings.
“I think we would all welcome that with open arms, anything that would make our squad better, increase our chances of getting to that next level, will be good for the team.
“We’re going in the right direction. You can see the improvement. But if I’m honest, we’ve still got a lot to learn.
Shaw watched the Europa League success over Ajax in 2017 with crutchesCredit: Getty – Contributor
“Especially this season, we look at the points we lost and where we went wrong and we all know how that happened and why that happened.
“Hopefully winning the Europa League will start a new success for United.”
And this time Shaw will be very much involved.
WIN £50,000!Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game
WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
Dream Team Euros
£50,000 jackpot
The best fantasy football game this summer
Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
FREE to play
Luke Shaw left baffled by Bruno Fernandes and brutally told Man Utd pal ‘you weren’t good today but scored two goals’ More
