Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, has expressed his doubts about Luke Shaw’s fitness and readiness to represent England until the knockout stages of Euro 2024.
Despite Shaw’s hopes of featuring in the upcoming match against Denmark, Ten Hag holds a different perspective.
Shaw’s participation in the tournament had been uncertain due to an injury concern, which also caused him to sit out England’s opening victory over Serbia, despite being named as a substitute.
Gareth Southgate, the England boss, had remained positive about Shaw’s condition, as the left-back had been actively participating in training alongside the rest of the squad leading up to the Group C clash.
Although Shaw has not played for Manchester United since February, Southgate had repeatedly hinted at the possibility of the defender making an appearance in the game against Denmark, which is England’s second group stage match.
However, during an Interview, Ten Hag surprised many by stating, “Luke Shaw will only start playing once England progresses beyond the group stages.”
Ten Hag’s assessment of England’s performance in their tense 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro campaign opener was far from positive.
He specifically criticized Southgate’s tactics, even suggesting that the England manager’s job could be at risk, with himself being considered as a potential replacement.
“The manager’s vision is crucial,” Ten Hag Said. “England takes a 1-0 lead, and then [Southgate] decides to adopt a more defensive approach, relying on occasional opportunities for the remaining minutes of the game.”
It remains to be seen how Shaw’s fitness progresses and whether Southgate will include him in the upcoming matches. The clash between Ten Hag’s opinions and Southgate’s decisions adds an intriguing layer to England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
