It wasn’t a dream… Luke Shaw really did score a goal on Friday night.
For the first time in 134 senior appearances, Shaw found the net and his late goal in Manchester United’s Premier League season opener against Leicester ultimately proved crucial.
The United left-back scored his side’s second goal after a fortunate touch allowed him to beat his man in the Foxes’ box before he rifled a shot into the far corner.
It was the cherry on top of a complete performance from Shaw, who was given the Man of the Match award by Sky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher.
The 23-year-old was able to laugh about his touch in his post-match interview and Shaw revealed that Leicester ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel wouldn’t let him forget about his good luck in the build-up.
“For me it’s the first one and that’s the most important. I’m up and running now,” Shaw said.
1 – Luke Shaw's goal was his first for Manchester United, on what is his 67th appearance for the club in all competitions. Rewarded. pic.twitter.com/ZWjBu5M9n0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 10, 2018
“For my career so far, it’s probably the best feeling I’ve had. I want more feelings like that. That’s why you come to stadiums like this, to teams like this, to help the team and score goals like that. It was the best feeling today.
“First touch? Deliberate!
“Schmeichel came up to me afterwards and said, ‘You spawny man’! I said, ‘I don’t care it went in!’”
Kasper Schmeichel congratulating Luke Shaw on his first touch! pic.twitter.com/TvDSb5jJUN
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) August 11, 2018
Shaw had been linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the summer but the full-back got himself in the shape of his life in preseason in an attempt to prove his doubters wrong.
After reportedly coming top in United’s early preseason fitness tests, a fully-fit Shaw looks determined to push on, nail down a place on the left side of the Red Devils’ defence and hopefully return to the England setup.
“For me, preseason-wise the minutes were the most important thing. I was kind of disappointed with my performances in preseason – I don’t think I was what I can be and I still think I can be better than I was tonight,” Shaw told MUTV.
“But of course I’m very happy with how it started and now I’ll just push on from here and hopefully make many more memories like the ones tonight for me.”
