Man United is surprised by the decision of coach Thomas Tuchel

Despite his steady form at Manchester United, Luke Shaw continues to be left out of recent England team selections.

Thomas Tuchel's firm choice not to call up Luke Shaw for England has sparked much debate, especially as Manchester United openly question the German coach's decision.

Since the Euro 2024 final, where England lost to Spain, Shaw has not been recalled to the national team. This is more surprising given that in the 2025-26 season, the 30-year-old defender started all 13 Premier League matches and became a key figure in coach Ruben Amorim's tactical setup. Manchester United is experiencing a strong revival, just 4 points behind second place after 13 rounds.

Shaw recently reached the milestone of 300 appearances for Manchester United following an impressive 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. While typically a left-back, Amorim has been deploying him as a left-sided center-back in a back three. His quick adaptation and consistent form have led Manchester United insiders to believe there is no reason for England to overlook such an experienced player.

According to sources in England, Manchester United’s leaders and coaching staff are puzzled by Tuchel’s assessment of Shaw. They insist the 30-year-old star can still perform well as a left-back despite his changed role at the club. With his fitness and form at a high level, many believe Shaw deserves serious consideration for a national team recall.

In an October interview, coach Ruben Amorim acknowledged England has many quality options, enough to form two strong squads. He believes Shaw deserves a return but also frankly admitted that not being called up allows Manchester United to better manage the player's recovery and training.

Currently in the England squad, Manchester City’s Nico O'Reilly is the leading candidate for the left-back position for the 2026 World Cup. However, Tuchel faces challenges with backup options as Myles Lewis-Skelly sees little playtime at Arsenal, while Dan Burn and Djed Spence have yet to prove themselves convincingly.

Still, Manchester United hopes Shaw will be included in England’s squad plans for next summer. Since 1958, the club has always had at least one player featured in the World Cup and they do not want this tradition to end.

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