Luke Shaw relinquished a holiday to get himself back to fitness and impressed in 45 mins vs. Wigan.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho revealed that Luke Shaw gave
up a summer holiday to work on his fitness and also admitted to being
surprised at the speed of the left-back's progress.
Shaw made his comeback in the 2-0 preseason friendly win over Wigan Athletic
on Saturday after 10 months out of action following a double fracture
to his right leg. The 21-year-old England defender looked untroubled by
fitness or injury issues and regularly pushed forward down the flank.
Mourinho
said: "When I found Luke at the training ground, it was a surprise for
me because I thought he couldn't be ready to train without any type of
limitation, but he did fantastic in the summer. He sacrificed his
holiday.
"He stayed in Manchester and was at the training ground
every day, putting himself in condition. Of course, you lose a bit of
sharpness of condition and confidence, that is normal, but he is trying
hard." The United manager admitted that Shaw could have played for
longer but Mourinho decided against it, opting for "45 safe minutes" and
going "step by step" rather than taking any risk with him.
Discussing
the team's performance as a whole, he added: "I could see things that
they start identifying and trying to play my football. I could see the
players trying to go in the direction I want them to go and do things I
want them to do.
"I know [Wigan] is a Championship team and they
are in the same process we are, a training process, so thank you very
much to the Wigan players and manager to give us the training session we
need at this moment."
The former Chelsea manager seemed to build a rapport with his new
supporters straight away, as fans chanted his name and he acknowledged
them. Mourinho, though, does not want to be the sole focus of their
attentions.
"For me, what I found unbelievable for the first time
in my career was that the support was like it was a crucial Premier
League match. Unbelievable.
"My reaction is that honestly, I would
prefer them to go with the players. I prefer them to go with the team. I
prefer them to go with Man United. They are the ones on the pitch and
they are the ones that need support. First, the players. I am the last
one after them.
"It is nice to feel welcome and that they are behind the team."
Looking
ahead to next week's China tour, Mourinho added: "Basically, in China I
will play with these guys [the players who featured against Wigan] that
are training for 10 days.
"The [Wayne] Rooneys and [Marcus]
Rashfords and [Chris] Smallings, these guys are coming to China without
training so I am not going to play them."
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