Moreno sorry for Shaw, but denies it was a foul

Ian Watson
Luke Shaw: Manchester United man is stretchered off

Luke Shaw: Manchester United defender is carried off after Hector Moreno's tackle

Hector Moreno has apologised to Luke Shaw for breaking his leg, but the PSV defender says he should not have been penalised for the tackle.

Shaw spent Tuesday night in an Eindhoven hospital after suffering a double fracture of his right leg in United’s 2-1 defeat at the Philips Stadion.

In the 15th minute of the Champions League group stage match, Moreno slid in from behind on Shaw with both feet, trapping the 20-year-old’s right foot, which bent at an angle, indicating the leg had been broken.

Incredibly, the Mexican was not punished for the challenge, which occurred in the home box.

Shaw left the field in tears, and it was clear the man who tackled him was affected by the incident too.

“I feel really sorry,” the PSV defender said. “I just feel really bad because I was involved in the accident.”

United manager Louis van Gaal condemned the tackle after the match, but his opposite number Phillip Cocu insisted his defender was not a dirty player.

When asked whether he thought he had committed a foul when he challenged Shaw, Moreno said: “I think not. I think I played the ball, but in this kind of situation I don’t care if it was a foul, I feel bad for him, and for his family.

“I don’t know how bad it is, but I had myself a situation like that during the World Cup and it’s bad.

“It’s difficult to say what happened. Now I just hope he will be back as soon as possible.”

Moreno, meanwhile, reflected on a momentous night for PSV.

Moreno nodded in a corner in first half injury time after Memphis Depay had put United ahead.

And then Luciano Narsingh made it 2-1 after the restart with a header on the counter.

“We knew it would be a difficult game,” Moreno said.

“We did not have the ball the most of the time. We knew they would have it so we had to play smart.

“A win like this helps us to gain confidence.”