Van Gaal: I Was Right To Start Shaw

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was frustrated to watch Luke Shaw suffer an injury during the first half of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal but insists he was right to start the in-form defender at the Emirates Stadium.

Shaw was initially a doubt for the Premier League tie after picking up a knock while playing for England against Scotland on Tuesday. But after a positive session at the Aon Training Complex on Friday, the boss decided he was fit enough for selection.

A late challenge from Shaw’s former Southampton team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain led to him being replaced by Ashley Young after 15 minutes in north London and, speaking afterwards, van Gaal was asked if he made the right choice of defenders.

“I am convinced that I made the right decision,” van Gaal explained in his post-match press conference. “This is the life of a manager, the result is always giving you the reason or not [to pick these players]. I cannot do other things because I don't have so many players.

“Shaw has come back from internationals not fit enough so we made him fit, but then he gets injured again. Then I have to give Young a game but Young is not fit enough to play 90 minutes. I have said this before. Then I have to change the line-up again.

“I think the players have done fantastic. Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair and Luke Shaw, how old are they? So when you play against a team like Arsenal, a team that are always changing position, you have to have communication. I think that is pretty good, but I was not pleased with the overall performance.”