Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane received praise from Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for their efforts against Nottingham Forest. The center-backs were crucial to the team’s comfortable victory.
Shaw made two clearances and three interceptions compared to four clearances and two interceptions from Varane. At Old Trafford on Tuesday, United defeated Forest 3-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Fred.
For the first time since the season was suspended for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Red Devils were back in Premier League action.
After the game, Ten Hag addressed the media and praised Shaw for his performance as the center-back in his new position and for maintaining a clean sheet.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, he said:
“I think you always question yourself after a break, what will be the restart, and we play a team, – especially the back four, – they never played together, and a player who has never played in a centre-back position (Shaw). And if you win three, concede no goal, another clean sheet, then you are happy with the performance.”
“Rapha shows once again his great personality and the great standard he is giving Manchester United by coming from the World Cup. A problem in the center-half position, and he took the responsibility to play, and he performed really well, and he was once again really important for our team.”
The victory over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night made it six straight victories for Manchester United at Old Trafford. Only twice have they had such a great run since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
With 29 points from 15 games and 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal, the Red Devils are currently fifth in the standings. Only Tottenham Hotspur, who have played one more game, are one point ahead of them in fourth position.
On December 31 at the Molineux Stadium, Manchester United and Wolves will square off in their final Premier League game of 2022.
