Man. United Target Early Goal Against Club Brugge

Luke Shaw believes an early Manchester United goal against Club Brugge on Wednesday night could be enough to defeat the Belgians and secure progress to the Champions League group stages.

The Reds hold a comfortable 3-1 lead from the first leg thanks to Memphis Depay’s brace and Marouane Fellaini’s late header at Old Trafford. Brugge are, in turn, hopeful of turning the play-off tie around after registering an away goal via a heavy deflection off Michael Carrick.

Looking ahead to the second leg, Shaw told MUTV that United may hunt for an early breakthrough: “It will be a new experience in the away leg but we’ve had these types of games before. They’ll be out to start on the front foot as they’re chasing the game, so hopefully we can keep it nice and tight and then pick them off. Perhaps we can grab an early goal to make it a more comfortable tie.”

Expanding on his point, Luke continued: “It is important to keep it tight at the back. If you look at the first game, the way we conceded early on was a setback but, thankfully, we bounced back. This time, we want to be the ones getting that early goal and really putting them on the back foot. We want to be in the group stages and we’re all focused on the Champions League.”

Shaw made his Champions League debut in last Tuesday’s first leg at Old Trafford and the flourishing left-back enjoyed every minute of the experience. “The feeling was amazing, it gave me goose-bumps. I used to watch it when I was younger and dream about being out on the pitch and listening to that music.

"To experience it was very special, so hopefully I can have many more of those nights. It’s a different experience, the atmosphere was unbelievable. I have tasted it once now and I am sure that you won’t get much better than Champions League nights at Old Trafford.”

Adnan Januzaj is also confident that United can finish off the job at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday evening after his great friend, Fellaini, scored an important third goal in last week’s first leg. Now, the youngster is backing his team-mates and the rest of his United colleagues to impress.

“It was an important goal,” Januzaj told MUTV. “It gives us a bigger lead to take to Brugge. We can go over there and hopefully score more goals. Everyone knows Felli is a great player. He had the red card last season so he couldn’t play in the league yet, but he will come back even better this season.

On the prospect of playing in Belgium, Adnan is excited, adding: “It’s always nice to go back to your own country and play a game. I’ve got family in Brussels and they will all come and watch the game.”

United have conceded just one goal in four matches across all competitions this season and that was an accidental concession from Carrick against Brugge. Shaw has played a major part in that defensive solidarity and the England international is quick to praise Louis van Gaal’s organisation.

“We have a lot more confidence at the back now. We work very hard in training on our defensive shape and the manager likes to do that to keep the team intact. We’re limiting teams to chances and I think that will help the attackers if we’re keeping it shut at the back, they can go and get the goals.”