Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has revealed that he made a mistake by expecting life at Old Trafford to be the same as his time at previous club Southampton.
The England international, who played for 45 minutes in last night’s 0-0 draw with Inter Milan, has been ordered by boss Louis van Gaal to train alone in order to improve his fitness, with the Dutchman claiming he is off the pace.
Ex-Saints star Shaw agrees with his manager but has admitted that he arrived at the club last month anticipating a similar workload to the one he became accustomed to at St Mary’s.
He told Sky Sports News: “I totally agree with him (van Gaal). To be playing in this formation (3-5-2) you have to be really fit – I am fit, but I am not at the high level he demands.
“I know myself that I have got to get fitter in order to get up and down but that is something I am going to work on. In my 45 minutes (against Inter) I felt really good, so I look forward to progressing.
“It was a surprise because I did not come into United thinking it was going to be much harder than it was at Southampton – that is something about which I made a mistake.
“I thought it was going to be the same, but this is the biggest club in the world and I am surrounded by world class players in training, which is something that will push me on.”
The teenager also insists he does not have a problem with the rigorous methods adopted by van Gaal’s fitness coaches.
He added: “The coaches are being hard with me which is something I want and need. In pre-season it is all about getting your fitness up. I am not too sure how far away I am from the required level but I played 45 minutes and felt great, and could have played on.
“That is progress and now the aim is to get fitter and fitter before the start of the season.”