Luke Shaw insists Man Utd set for bright future after painful end to the season

As if the painful end to Manchester United's season wasn't enough to ruin Luke Shaw's summer holidays, he had to endure the sight of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea making a clean sweep of the trophies in England and Europe as well.

It has been a bitter pill for United and their supporters to swallow, but a growing sense of confidence and optimism is returning on the club's pre-season tour.

Perhaps appropriately, Shaw chose the launch of a new range of sunglasses - only Manchester United could have an official vision partner - to predict a brighter future.

'Last season was so hurtful for everyone,' he said. 'I know the fans were really hurt, but as a team we were very hurt.

'It was a massive disappointment and really tough for us all to take. How other teams were doing as well, winning trophies over the period when we had time off.

'You couldn't really enjoy your holidays when you see the Champions League final and the Europa League final and they're all English teams,' added Shaw, who tried to get away from it all in Dubai and Los Angeles.

'It makes you feel even worse, especially the way the finals went! None of us want that to happen again. They won't have it as easy as last season.

'I think that's why we've all come back again with a different mind-set. We had that break to clear our minds and now we're all focused on getting United back to where they belong.

'People are probably already doubting us, but they can carry on doing that. We know what we're capable of doing and we will have a much better season.

'For sure, it will be a new United, especially with the new ideas the manager is bringing in.'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is implementing a more possession-based game that will involve United passing the ball out from the back like 'a big team', as Shaw puts it.

For the 23-year-old left-back, that will mean being able to take greater risks than he was allowed under Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal.

'There are a couple of different rules now where you can go into the box and we have worked on that in training,' he added. 'Just to keep the ball more and play as a big team, a good team.

'We want to be winning games, but with possession as well. We've worked a lot on tactics, pressing-wise.

'This pre-season has been really tough for everyone, physically and at times so hard mentally, but it is helping the squad massively.'

While new signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dan James have settled in well, some fans have questioned why United have not done more transfer business yet.

'I fully understand the way they're thinking, especially after the season we had,' said Shaw. 'There wouldn't be any reason for them not to be like that.

'But we've got amazing talent and, you never know, we might make another couple of signings.'

Shaw's relationship with Mourinho could at best be described as strained, and he is grateful for the support Solskjaer has shown him since taking over in December.

It resulted in him being deservedly named United's player of the year, even though it must have felt like scant consolation in the circumstances.

'The manager knows what I'm capable of and he's been brilliant with me since he came in,' said Shaw.

'That's the one thing you want in a club is the manager, to believe in you so much.'

Luke Shaw was speaking at an event to launch the new Manchester United Sunglass Club Collection by Maui Jim, the team's official vision partner.