Manchester United defender Luke Shaw was almost reduced to tears as he pinpointed the exact reason for the team’s collapse in the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal was all that Tottenham needed to win the competition and condemn United to their worst campaign in modern history.
For large parts of the game at San Mames, the Red Devils were second best and barely laid a glove on Ange Postecoglou’s men.
After the final whistle, Shaw spoke to Andy Mitten for Sony Sports Network and gave his verdict on the result and the club’s woeful season.
Asked how he felt, Shaw answered, “Devastated. I think the outcome just goes with how our season’s been. Nowhere near good enough and we have to take responsibility for that, us as players. It’s nowhere near good enough for a club like Manchester United.”
“We have to question ourselves. Are we good enough to be at a club like this, because this season is nowhere near acceptable, like I just said.”
“The fans, I can only apologise, and they’re probably bored of hearing the same things because there’s probably been a lot of apologising this season, because most of it has not been good enough.”
“But I’d also like to say thank you to them for their support because probably through this worst season ever, they’ve stuck by us and they’ve been with us every step of the way, even through every bad result that we’ve had and we appreciate that.”
On what went wrong in the final, Shaw explained, “I think the moral of our season really. Their goal was so super lucky, but then you know, we conceded and then it’s an uphill task.”
“This whole season we’ve struggled to score goals and that was the game. I hardly remember them having many chances to be honest. I think we dominated the game. In my opinion, they were there for the taking. I think we could feel even at half time, one-nil down, I could feel it.”
“We just need to score and the game turns on its head and it’s a completely different outcome. It’s just the season that it’s been. We found it really hard to score and that’s the trouble – when you’re conceding and struggling to score, it’s a massive hill to climb.”
Shaw continued, “Honestly, in my opinion, it’s the lowest we can get. It’s the lowest of the low. A club like Manchester United…closer to relegation than a European spot, honestly, like I said, it’s nowhere near good enough.”
“There is no room for optimism. The only room is for questioning ourselves.”
Mitten pointed it out to Shaw that Amorim is unlikely to be sacked and a lot of players will still be there next season, so they will have to make it work.
The defender responded, “That’s what I just said, but that just shows the state we’re in. The manager is 100% the person to take the club back to where it should be, 100%.”
On the reason for his belief in Amorim, Shaw said, “Because he knows exactly what needs to be done at this club. It’s a massive club. So much has to change, not just on the pitch but outside of the pitch. Inside the club, there needs to be so many changes.”
Asked to highlight these changes, Shaw only remarked, “I don’t want to go too much into it right now. I don’t think it’s the right time.”
“I think us as players we have to change. We have to change the mindset, you know the mentality, the belief that in games like this, we can win and I feel we lacked that at times tonight.”
“You could see it, we didn’t believe we were going to score and that hurts us, but like I said, Ruben will 100% turn this club around and this club will be successful again. It’s not something that changes in a day, in a month, maybe not even a year, but the club needs change and Ruben is for sure the person to do it.”
I spoke to Luke Shaw after the game last night for @SonySportsNetwk pic.twitter.com/vKNkHZrb7M
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) May 22, 2025
United are back in action on Sunday when they face Aston Villa in their final game of the Premier League season.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
