Manchester United defender Luke Shaw accepts the Treble-winning feats of Manchester City hurt everyone at Old Trafford – and they cannot afford to let it happen again.
United failed in their attempt to stop City emulating their historic feat in 1999 when they were beaten by their local rivals in the FA Cup final.
Pep Guardiola’s side overcame Inter Milan in the Champions League final the following week, and the arrival of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips into the England camp in the aftermath of their success merely drilled home the enormity of what had happened.
“It hurt a lot. A lot,” said Shaw.
“All of us as players felt that, especially for me, seeing them come to the England camp. It was really hard to take. We can’t let that happen again.
“It’s our time now to start putting a stamp on things and not letting it always be so easy for them because, in the past, it’s looked like that.
“As players, we can’t accept that any more.”