Ten Hag: Luke Shaw is a leader

The Dutchman described the England international as an "honest" player who has "shown a lot of leading capacity" for the Reds this season.

As well as his appreciation of Shaw, Erik was also asked about Alejandro Garnacho and the belief that his team possesses, among other topics.

Ahead of our midweek clash with the Palace, find out what Ten Hag said in the second part of his press conference below...

The last time you went to Palace was the final day of last season before you took over, could you sense the mood of the team and contrast with how it is today?
"We faced them also in Australia, Crystal Palace, so, yeah, Selhurst Park. I know the ambience there – it is a difficult place to go. We have to be really good and have to be 100 per cent. They are a good team, Crystal Palace, a physical team, with battlers, from the first minute. So we have to be really focused, and on the right energy levels, to beat them. It’s quite clear why we go there."

When you see the dressing room do you feel there’s a real trust the players can carry out what you’re saying to them on the training ground? Do you have that great trust in them?
"I saw how they transferred the plan in the game [against City]. I think it was brilliant how they were in possession, but we talked about the role of Bruno Fernandes, out of position. The pressing, how we defended against the front players from Manchester City. I think it was really good and, yeah, I trust them. They were behind the plan fully, 100 per cent, and they controlled the game for long periods in the first half."

The great United teams of the past always pulled off results like [the one against City]. Do you feel this result gives the team belief, as those great teams had?
"I’m convinced of that. Teams need experiences to build that mentality, to build that part of the mentality, the belief that the game is only over when the referee whistles for the last time. You have to stay in the game and you have to construct that and need experiences like this to improve even more and to push it even more to a higher-level mentality."

Alejandro Garnacho has had a great impact – how much improvement have you seen in his attitude and all-round play in the last few months?
"Yeah, he’s [improving] a lot. He has skill and I don’t see that many players, even in the Premier League, who have that skill, like he beats players one-on-one. But he learned in the last months how to play in the team and how to live and do the right things in the week, and how to have the right attitude on the training ground. You can see how he is acting as a team player but his individual skills can make the difference. Also, for him, it’s to keep going in the process, it’s not done as there is a lot to come and a lot more room for improvement for him, but he can help contribute on the highest level. I’m really happy. It is a bonus for us, as a club, that you bring in young players who come into the squad and even come into the team. I think also it is a part of our project that has to contribute to our success."

Luke Shaw was not in the team at the start of the season but has forced his way back and been very, very consistent. It was a top performance at centre-back [against City] so how pleased are you with his growth and application and is he a player you’ve noticed a big difference in?
"It’s quite obvious. I like it that he is so honest. After the second game [at Brentford], he didn’t play but he said 'I fully understand, my performance is not right'. But, from the first day in training in pre-season, he was working really hard. You can see, when he is in the right approach, he is a top player. Not even only a team player, he is a leader. He has shown a lot of leading capacity, the example at this moment, with his skills, his physical power. He brings a lot to the team, also in his mentality. Now he is an example, how to win big games, and I’m really happy with his development. I think it’s huge, if it’s at centre-half or left full-back, he is a really great player and a great personality for the dressing room."

Was it not a gamble playing him at centre-back against a team like Manchester City and Erling Haaland? It must have been a big decision…
"It is a big decision but I think, when you analyse the profile of Haaland and analyse also the combination with [Kevin] De Bruyne, I think it was the right decision. He has the physical power to compete with them but also has the tactical feel to make the right decisions and he has the technical skills as well to play in that position. I think, for [the City game], it matches really well but, in other games, he can contribute even more from the left-back position. So we can see the tactical choice, we can see from game to game what we need. I think we have more players in our squad who have that capacity to be multi-functional and we can use them as a weapon in games."