Premier League

‘Honest’ Shaw insists Man Utd were ‘unacceptable’ but Newcastle ‘did not win on quality’

Luke Shaw looks frustrated after conceding a goal

Luke Shaw delivered a damning assessment of Man Utd’s 2-0 defeat against Newcastle on Sunday.

The Red Devils were comfortably beaten by the Magpies – who leapfrogged their opponents in the Premier League in the process.

England left-back Shaw admitted that his side’s performance was “unacceptable” but bizarrely said Newcastle “won on desire, passion, hunger, attitude” and not on “quality”.

While he is right in half of that assessment, it is a poor take from Shaw if he genuinely believes Man Utd weren’t also beaten due to the quality of their hosts.

“Not good enough,” Shaw told Sky Sports.

“I feel like every time I speak after games I’m always honest. As a team we have to be honest.

“I don’t think Newcastle won on quality today, they won on desire, passion, hunger, attitude. They had a higher motivation than we did.

“That can’t be possible. I feel I say the same every time we lose. They wanted it more. At Man Utd that shouldn’t be possible.

READ MORE: Newcastle produce a season-best display as Man United freeze on another big away stage

“It’s unacceptable. It’s not what we want to set out to be. In big games you need that hunger. We didn’t create too much.

“Maybe you can say it’s been coming. Our levels dropped before the international break. We have three days to pick it back up.

“The players had a chat in the changing room after with no staff round. It’s down to us. It was nowhere near good enough. We had to speak out in front of each other.

“It’s important. We’re a team. When we go out onto the pitch, we have to fight for each other. Sometimes it hasn’t looked like that.

“I’m sure we’ll speak again. We need to realise the problems quickly and change it round. We still can have a very good season but with results and performances like this we can’t.”

On reports he has agreed to sign a new long-term contract, Shaw said: “I’m close [to a new contract]. Nothing has been signed yet. We’ve agreed certain things. We’ll take it from there.”

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, the 27-year-old conceded that Arsenal and Manchester City have been the best two sides in the Premier League this season and has emphasised the importance of qualifying for the Champions League.

“Not what we wanted,” he added. “Not what we were expecting.

“When you come here to a tough stadium and a very good side and you don’t come with the right attitude and hunger it will be a tough day. That…

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