Our must-read chat with Shaw

Our no.23 says the intensity and hands-on style he has brought to the Reds' training session and match preparations is something everyone in the squad has welcomed and the Reds have so far made it two wins out of two on Tour 2022.

We sat down with Luke to get his insight into working with our new boss and he also discussed the incredible support the players have had during pre-season visits to Thailand and Australia...

Firstly, belated happy birthday to you – presumably that was the perfect present in Bangkok – a 4-0 win over Liverpool and a great way to kick off pre-season in the manager’s first game…
“It was obviously a really nice day, especially to beat Liverpool. It was our first game under the new manager and there were some really good things and a lot to push forward with.”

What pleased you most as players about the performance and did you feel you’d been able to implement some of the manager’s ideas almost immediately?
“Yes, but of course it’s going to take time, it doesn't just happen overnight. If look back on the game there were a lot of good things but also a lot of things that the manager will want us to work on and we know that. But so far so good, the lads are really enjoying putting in the work and listening to his ideas. It’s been really good.”

We’ve seen you and Jadon link up really well down that left side in the past and you did again in the lead-up to the first goal, and Jadon looked particularly sharp in that first half…
“Yes for sure on Jadon, but I think everyone really is looking really sharp in training. For me, the levels have definitely stepped up and I think they needed to. Obviously last season they weren’t as high as they should be, but the manager has brought more intensity and more running from everyone and we’re in a much better place than we were last year. I think everyone is looking really sharp and the most important thing is we’re all really enjoying it.”

That was some finish from Fred against Liverpool…
“[Smiles] Yeah he tries that a lot! He does it in training quite a lot, he doesn’t always score, but he’s great with both feet and it was nice for him to score.”

While it was a great way to kick off the tour, it was only the first game and the manager mentioned after that there are some areas he wants to keep working on - how important is it to keep building on things during these tour matches?
“100 per cent – we know we can still do much better. The manager demands more and we have to be better and better. After the game he said to the press and he also said it to us as well that there were mistakes made that we need to improve on, not just individually but as a team as well. He’s spoken a lot about the team and the structure and the way he wants to play. It’s a lot of details, but details win games and with his philosophy and the way he wants to play, we need to listen. It’s really good to have an idea of what the manager wants and it’s down to us to go and show that on the pitch.”

How much have you enjoyed working under the manager so far and what are your main observations of how he works? He seems very hands-on during training and knows exactly the message he wants to get across to the players...
“Yeah of course and I think he also knows what the team needs and he has his own style and how he wants to manage and all the players have really taken it on board and they’re really enjoying it. He is very hands-on and he takes a lot of the sessions. He’s involved a lot and if he sees people aren’t hitting the standards that he wants in training he’ll make sure they know. I think that’s good because he keeps the standards high. Like I said, there is still much more to come from us and this is only the start.”

From a personal point of view, do you feel particularly determined to ensure it's a strong season for you after a frustrating end to the campaign with injury last term?
“Yeah of course. Last season was very disappointing, not just as a team but also individually for me. It wasn’t what people expect or what I expect and I think this season is another fresh start. Now it’s time for me to keep consistency and keep higher levels of performance week in, week out which I’ve spoken to the manager about already and that’s what he wants.”

Harry, David and Bruno said the other day they've been really excited by what they've seen from the whole squad in training and of course we saw that in the Liverpool game - do you feel that too and is there a real focused mood amongst the players?
“Yeah 100 per cent. We can’t be satisfied anymore with how the team has been going. It’s not where the club should be and we know the levels have had to take a massive step in terms of higher intensity and what we’re supposed to be doing and I think from the start of the last two weeks, especially in training, it’s definitely a big improvement. And even in the [Liverpool] game, I think you could see things that probably you haven’t seen before, so I think there are things to look forward to.”

After COVID, how does it feel to be back on tour and seeing some of our incredible fans?
“It’s always nice to see the fans and what’s brilliant is when you have new lads in the squad who don’t really know how big the club is and how big our fanbase is outside England until you see what it’s like on tour. They’re always very surprised and I remember that feeling, it’s unbelievable to think how many fans we have. They’ve been brilliant especially in Bangkok – we love their support. And now we’re here [in Melbourne] it’s really good here too.”

What are your stand-out memories from tours gone by?
“I’ve done quite a lot and it’s just always lovely to come on tour and witness the passion of the fans for us. We’re fortunate to come on tours around the world to see the fans and give back to them.”

There are a number of young players on tour - how important an experience will this be in their development and what's your advice to them?
“You’ve always got to make the most of things like this. This is their opportunity and a time to shine and to show yourself to the new manager, we’re all in that situation anyway where we’ve got to show the manager what we can do. I think especially for the young lads it’s really important because they know they have the backing of the club in terms of youth being very important here. You’ve seen it in years gone by when new youth players come through the system and into the first team and that’s a really big thing for the club. They need to take their opportunity but also not many get this opportunity so they need to enjoy it as well.”

The focus for now is on training and tour games, but the players must have one eye on the Brighton game - how excited are you to get things going?
“I think you need to have an eye on that Brighton match because that’s the most important game that’s coming up. Now, it’s all about preparation and getting the fitness work in and the gametime, and obviously understanding the new set-up the manager wants on the pitch. It’s about putting all that together and making sure we’re 100 per cent at our best when that first game comes because that’s the most important one.”

Finally, what are you hoping to get out of this tour?
“Getting the most out of the tour is about understanding what the manager wants from you as an individual and as a team. And I think fitness. It’s a good time to build your fitness. Last season I didn’t really have that long and it’s always a struggle to go into the new season when you haven’t had a proper pre-season, but with this one we’ve been back in a while now and we’ve still got a few more weeks to go and it’s really important that we get to maximise our fitness for when the season starts.”