Roy Keane Slams Luke Shaw: “He’s Been Getting Away With Murder at Manchester United”
Few voices in football resonate quite like Roy Keane’s. The former Manchester United captain, known for his ferocious standards as a player and unflinching honesty as a pundit, once again made headlines following the Manchester Derby. While the focus after United’s defeat to City was on their lack of intensity and tactical shortcomings, Keane singled out one player for particularly stinging criticism: Luke Shaw.
Speaking on television after the game, Keane declared that Shaw has been “getting away with murder” at Manchester United, a phrase that instantly caught the attention of fans, pundits, and the media. It was not the first time Keane has criticized Shaw, but the severity of his wording this time reignited debate about the left-back’s consistency, mentality, and long-term role at Old Trafford.
What Keane Meant by “Getting Away with Murder”
Roy Keane’s phrase was not meant literally, of course, but it carried weight. By saying Shaw has been “getting away with murder,” Keane was implying that the defender has enjoyed a level of protection or leniency at United that other players might not receive.
Keane’s argument was rooted in three main points:
- Inconsistency – Shaw has played at an elite level in bursts, but Keane argued that he rarely sustains that standard across an entire season. The Euro 2020 campaign with England, where Shaw scored in the final, showed what he is capable of. Yet at United, he has too often slipped back into average performances.
- Lack of Accountability – Keane suggested that Shaw escapes criticism compared to other underperforming players. He pointed out that when other defenders make mistakes, the spotlight tends to fall heavily on them, while Shaw seems to avoid the same level of scrutiny.
- Mentality Question – For Keane, who built his career on relentlessness, players like Shaw do not always project the hunger or drive that Manchester United legends are expected to embody. In his eyes, Shaw coasts too often.
The Derby Context
The Manchester Derby magnified Shaw’s flaws. Against City’s relentless attack, Shaw struggled to deal with the pace and movement of players like Phil Foden and Julián Álvarez. There were moments when his positioning was questionable, allowing City too much space down United’s left flank.
Keane’s verdict reflected a sense of frustration, not just with Shaw’s performance in that match, but with the wider pattern of his career at Old Trafford. United supporters expected more solidity and leadership from an experienced player in such a high-stakes game, but Shaw failed to deliver.
Shaw’s Career in Perspective
Luke Shaw’s Manchester United career has been a rollercoaster. Signed from Southampton in 2014 as one of the most promising teenagers in England, he was the world’s most expensive teenager at the time. However, his development was derailed by a horrific leg break in 2015, which sidelined him for months and raised doubts about whether he could ever return to his best.
He eventually did recover, but the journey was rocky. Under José Mourinho, Shaw endured repeated public criticism, with Mourinho often questioning his fitness and mentality. While many fans felt Mourinho’s approach was unfair, it is telling that doubts about Shaw’s drive have followed him throughout his career.
Yet Shaw has also enjoyed high points. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, he rediscovered his form, earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Year in 2020–21 and starring for England at Euro 2020. Erik ten Hag, too, has trusted him in both his natural left-back role and occasionally as a center-back.
So why does Keane remain unimpressed? The answer lies in standards. For Keane, being good in spells is not enough at Manchester United. Legends are made by delivering consistently at the highest level, week after week, season after season.
Fan and Media Reaction
Unsurprisingly, Keane’s comments triggered mixed reactions.
- Some fans agreed wholeheartedly. They argued that Shaw has been allowed to drift through games without consequence, and that his tendency to lose form reflects a lack of top-level mentality. For these supporters, Keane was simply saying what many had been thinking.
- Others felt Keane was too harsh. They pointed out that Shaw has been one of United’s more reliable performers over the last few seasons, often covering for weaknesses in the team around him. They also highlighted the impact of injuries, suggesting that Shaw’s body has sometimes let him down more than his mindset.
- The media largely sided with Keane’s sentiment, if not his exact wording. Commentators noted that Shaw has the talent to be among the best in the world, but the inconsistency that Keane referenced is undeniable.
Is Keane Right?
To assess whether Keane’s claim holds weight, we need to consider Shaw in comparison with other top full-backs. Players like Andrew Robertson at Liverpool or Kyle Walker at Manchester City may not always produce spectacular moments, but they rarely drop their standards. They are consistent, dependable, and available almost every week.
Shaw, by contrast, shines in big moments but then fades. His ability to match elite players on his day proves his talent, but his inability to sustain that level fuels Keane’s criticism. From this perspective, Keane does have a point.
However, it is also important to recognize Shaw’s resilience. Recovering from his injuries and regaining his place in both the England team and United’s starting XI shows determination. Unlike some players who disappear after a serious setback, Shaw has fought back. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between: Shaw is a very good player, but not yet the relentless, elite-level performer Keane demands.
The Broader Issue: United’s Standards
Keane’s comments about Shaw also reflect a larger frustration with Manchester United as a whole. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, United have struggled to find players who embody the relentless mentality that defined their dominance. For Keane, Shaw symbolizes a broader culture where players are not held to account strongly enough.
“Getting away with murder,” then, could apply not only to Shaw but to several players who have been inconsistent over the last decade. United’s decline has often been blamed on weak leadership and lack of accountability — values Keane prizes above all else.
Conclusion
Roy Keane’s claim that Luke Shaw has been “getting away with murder” at Manchester United is both provocative and revealing. While harsh, it reflects a genuine concern about standards at Old Trafford. Shaw’s career has been marked by flashes of brilliance but undermined by inconsistency and injury setbacks. For Keane, talent alone is not enough; at United, players must deliver relentlessly, or they risk becoming symbols of mediocrity.
Whether one agrees with Keane or not, his comments serve as a reminder of what Manchester United once stood for — a culture of accountability, consistency, and unrelenting ambition. For Shaw, the challenge is clear: silence critics not with words but with performances. Only then will he prove that he belongs among the club’s greats, rather than being remembered as a player who “got away with murder.”
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