Luke Shaw concede that Manchester United were so poor after 20 minutes against Aston Villa that he knew they would lose the match.
- Liverpool put up for sale as owners FSG release statement
- Unai Emery explains why Man Utd lost to Aston Villa with tactical observation
- Antonio Conte aims dig at Klopp after Liverpool beat Tottenham
United fell to a 3-1 defeat at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon to end their nine-game unbeaten run under Erik ten Hag.
Unai Emery’s team took the lead after just seven minutes and Villa doubled it just four minutes later through Lucas Digne.
Jacob Ramsey’s own goal handed the Red devils a lifeline just before the break but he scored up the other end early into the second half to make it 3-1.
Villa would then hold on to secure the win but United left-back Shaw knew the game was over after just 20 minutes.
‘We knew they were coming out with a new manager and a new feeling,’ Shaw told Match of the Day. ‘We did expect it. But in games like this, if you start slowly in the first 20 minutes then you are going to lose.
‘We were not good enough. We have always got to believe we can win games even when we’re 2-0 down. ‘We conceded early in the second half and it’s a mountain to climb after that.
‘If you watch the game back, you’ll see we made a sloppy start. They were finding spaces and pockets and turning with ease. ‘That is not good enough. We didn’t deserve to win.’
Former striker Clinton Morrison described United’s only goal as ‘very fluky’ and believes there was one player in particular they needed, who did not play.
‘Manchester United miss Bruno Fernandes,’ the pundit told BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘They miss that creative spark.
‘They miss that someone who play that incisive pass and that’s why they’ve struggled in that final third. ‘Aston Villa have been excellent and they thoroughly deserve this. Don’t think this is a fluke scoreline.
‘Villa have deserved this, Manchester United’s goal was a very fluky goal but other than that Villa have been excellent and could probably of scored more goals.
‘Unai Emery tactically got it spot on. It’s boring doing tactical stuff but there’s a reason why you do it on the training pitch.
‘Their shape was brilliant, they knew Man United were going to come in the second half so that’s why they played on the counter attack and that’s how Ramsey scored the third goal.’
