Manchester United can clinch a spot in the Champions League knockout round with a win over PSV Eindhoven this Wednesday.
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The Manchester United left back has been working hard in the gym on his recovery but has been given four days off this week by Louis van Gaal with the team again set to play the Eredivisie side.
PSV manager Phillip Cocu has expressed his hope that Manchester United’s Luke Shaw will make a quick recovery from his double leg fracture, per journalist Matt Smulders on Twitter.
The challenge on Shaw by Hector Moreno prompted suggestions that United may seek retribution – the PSV defender is sure to incur the wrath of elements of the crowd – but Van Gaal reiterated that no blame should be directed at him.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, he said: ‘I still think [we are on schedule].
It is perhaps because of that Van Gaal felt able to deliver the sort of coded message to Wayne Rooney about stepping straight back into the starting line-up to which the striker has now grown accustomed.
Van Gaal was pleased with the system used in Rooney’s absence, with Dutch youngster Memphis Depay pushed forward.
Dutchman Daley Blind, also present at the news conference, said United had to improve on the performance in Eindhoven.
For us he is a very important player and I said in advance already he would be the revelation of the season and he was on his way to do that. Van Gaal will let Shaw do his own thing for a few days and skip the match to avoid any painful memories of his horrific injury. “It is always a decision of the manager”.
“I thought, why is he fed up?” “Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, who has been operated upon some time ago, Michael Carrick, then Ander Herrera and Phil Jones were injured on Saturday – they can not play. I compare players and then what I think is fitting the best in our gameplan, they’ll play”.
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PSV, who are one point below leaders United, are drawing confidence from their 2-1 win over the three-time European champions at the Philips Stadion in September.
