---
title: "Rojo or Shaw?"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/07/09/rojo-or-shaw/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Features"
published: "2015-07-09T20:43:21Z"
modified: "2015-07-09T20:43:21Z"
---

# Rojo or Shaw?

The question of the premier left back at United should be an obvious one, with Shaw being the only specialist left back at the club. However due to Shaw’s injuries and fitness issues, it meant that other players were required to as cover, often Rojo. But which player is the most solid defender overall?

**Defence**

Rojo would appear to be the better defender. The Argentine international has completes around 2 and a half tackles in every Premier League game in comparison to the Englishman who only completes around 1 and a half.  The Argentinian also has shown himself to be the better defender when it comes to breaking up play. Rojo makes around 2 and a half interceptions per game whereas Shaw has a poor record, as he doesn’t even make 1 interception per game. It’s worth remembering however that Rojo played a number of games as a centre back last season and therefore you would expect him to be more involved in the defensive aspect of the game.

**On The Ball Skill**

A lot of talk before the 2014/15 season was that United didn’t have anyone who was effective at linking the play from defence to midfield. These two new additions were supposed to have solved those problems, but did they? Luke Shaw certainly didn’t. He showed great promise in his range of passing completing nearly 87% of his passes each game, however he has shown his decision making to be one of his major downfalls. Although he has the ability to either to go past the man himself or play the ball into midfield, he often passes when he should run and then runs when he should pass. Rojo is similar in the sense that he also has a good range of passing just like Shaw. However Rojo is far stronger in his decision making with it in fact being one of his major strengths.

Overall, Rojo leads the way in the battle between the two, however if Shaw is back to full fitness for the majority of next season it is unlikely we will see the two competing for spaces as Rojo will likely be in the centre back role while Shaw plays out at left back. Of course Shaw is only 19 and therefore has plenty of time to work on his reading of the game, whereas Rojo who is 25 will already have worked on that aspect. In conclusion then Rojo for now, Shaw for the future.