Manchester United were fortunate to earn a point at home against Everton. Defender Luke Shaw was back in United’s team and was responsible for earning the crucial penalty in stoppage time.
Everton were anxious to get back on track after their loss to Liverpool at the weekend. Koeman’s team were in front with a goal from a close range shot by Phil Jagielka . Everton were hoping to secure 3 points and continue their bid for one of the top spots in the Premier League
Luke Shaw, the defender heavily criticised recently by manager Jose Mourinho, was United’s hero on the day. Shaw’s shot in stoppage time was cleared through a handball by Ashley Williams. United earned the penalty which striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic confidently converted.
Many remarked Shaw’s instant response to his manager questioning his professionalism. The player has been out of many of United’s games this season. The 21-year-old is naturally under a lot of pressure. Many fans expect to see him as a starting player for both England and Manchester United.
Jose Mourinho still thinks that Shaw has a long way to go in proving himself, despite his positive performance against Everton. “I think he has lots of potential but the football brain and the professional brain has to be in with the talent,” Mourinho said.
“I think he has to change his football brain. I was telling him just now, he was doing things in the second half because he was reacting to my voice. If he was playing on the other side, for sure he would not do it because I was not there to think for him. He needs maturity and maturity comes with responsibility. He has talent, I want to help him. I think he had a future here.”
Neither team can be entirely happy with the result. Manchester United are in fifth place, four points behind rivals City. Everton’s objective was to earn four points from their games against Liverpool and United. The team earned only one point and is seventh place, tied on points with Arsenal who are on sixth.
In spite of the late equalizer, manager Ronald Koeman is happy with the way his team played, especially in defense. “Before the game you’d settle for a point, but with how the game went we’re disappointed,” Koeman told BT Sport.
“We played well – and had a lot of space on the counter-attack – we had to kill the game. We were terrific in our defending. Yes, it is really painful. It’s a penalty, but one minute before the end, it’s always painful.”
Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored from the spot and also had a goal dismissed through an offside decision. He believes United can still earn a top four spot finish this season, but the team cannot afford to lose any more points.
“I think we deserved a little bit more. I mean we conceded a goal by mistake, the first mistake by missing Williams I think [it was who] headed it and then the goal came out of nothing,” Ibrahimovic told BT Sport.
“We need to keep focus, we cannot afford these mistakes, especially now in the end [of the season] because it’s very important points especially when the table is like it is. We are close, but still we don’t get the points that we need.”
