Manchester United’s Luke Shaw agreed with early season benching – Erik ten Hag

Luke Shaw told Erik ten Hag that he deserved to be dropped before rediscovering his best form, which included keeping Erling Haaland quiet as a makeshift center-back during the Manchester derby.

Ten Hag benched Shaw after a 4-0 loss to Brentford in August, and summer signing Tyrell Malacia took his place.

The England defender didn’t play again until a 2-1 win at Everton on Oct. 9, but he’s become a key figure in United’s comeback as they’ve won nine straight games.

Ten Hag has occasionally used Shaw as a center-back since his return from the World Cup, and he was selected ahead of Argentina World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.

It pitted Shaw against Haaland, who has 27 goals this season and a hat trick against United in October, but the Norwegian striker was quiet, failing to score in a Premier League match for only the fifth time.