Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw claims he has never been out of shape, though his fitness has come under the scanner repeatedly during his time at the club.
The 23-year-old has struggled to establish himself since joining United in 2014. When he joined, then-manager Louis van Gaal said the player needed to work on his fitness, and Jose Mourinho has echoed the comments of his predecessor since taking over in 2016.
Shaw’s gametime over the last two seasons has continued to be limited, with Ashley Young preferred as the Red Devils’ first-choice left-back.
“People think because of the way I’m naturally built I’m bigger than I am,” the former Southampton man said in an interview with The Guardian.
“People can say I’m fat but I know my own body. Of course I always look big because I’m bigger built. You could say a Wayne Rooney type of body.”
Photos emerged this offseason of Shaw undergoing a gruelling fitness regime in Dubai to get in shape ahead of the preseason, with the young Englishman looking fitter than before.
“Of course I worked hard and not just for them [the critics], I wanted to for myself, get in the best shape and that wasn’t my best shape,” Shaw says.
“It was a good shape to start the season off, the preseason, but now I’m working harder than ever and first game of the season I want to look 10 times better than I did in that picture.
“I’m working towards that and with the games and training we’re doing here. Obviously we’ve got a new fitness coach and he’s working us all hard and that’s what I need.”
“I guess you’ve just got to take it [criticism] because there is always going to be negative criticism and positive but I think both of them can make you stronger.
“And I think I’ve been unlucky because I’ve had a few ups and downs with different managers but I would say I’ve never been out of shape I’ve just, I don’t know, sometimes people don’t think I’m fitter than I am but that’s all in the past.
“And, honestly, I feel really good and I’m raring to go. The minutes are only going to help me become fitter. That’s what I need: minutes and hard work in training.”
Mourinho and Shaw have endured a strained public relationship over the last two seasons, with the left-back coming under plenty of criticism from his manager. However, Shaw insists he has the Portuguese’s support heading into the new season.
“I spoke with the manager about a week after the holidays,” Shaw explained.
“I was in Dubai and he texted me and we had a really good chat, it made me feel really confident about the upcoming season and that’s why I worked really hard.
“I want to prove to him as well that I can be here, as well in this team.”
