Manchester United riled by Hector Moreno award after Luke Shaw injury

Left-back out for six months after double leg fracture
PSV defender named man of the match despite tackle

Posted Thursday, September 17, 2015 by theguardian.com

Hector Moreno celebrates his goal against Manchester United, who described his man of the match award as ‘strange and disappointing’.

Manchester United are upset with Uefa’s choice of Héctor Moreno as the man of the match after his challenge resulted in Luke Shaw breaking his right leg in two places and facing six months out, with the club describing the decision as “strange and disappointing”.

The incident came in the 15th minute of United’s 2-1 defeat at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. As Shaw burst into the home area Moreno made what appeared to be a two-footed tackle on the left-back. Shaw suffered a double fracture of his right leg that was operated on in Eindhoven that night.

Moreno, who equalised for PSV, was named the player of the match by European football’s governing body yet a United source said: "We find it strange and disappointing Uefa made him their man of the match after what happened to Luke." It is understood the award is decided by a Uefa reporting team who cover each Champions League tie.

Moreno offered an apology to Shaw after the game and the Mexican insisted there had been no intent on his part. Following the incident Nicola Rizzoli, the referee, did not punish the defender or award a penalty.

Howard Webb, the former technical director of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, which oversees refereeing in England, backed the Italian official. "Luke Shaw’s injury was awful and I wish him a speedy recovery but I have got to say the referee made the right decision,” he told BT Sport.

“Moreno stretches with his right leg, which plays the ball cleanly. His left leg makes some contact on the follow-through, but it is always tucked away under him and not aimed towards Luke Shaw.

"Luke is unlucky in that he gets his studs caught and twists, which causes the injury, but I think the referee made the right decision."

After requiring nine minutes of treatment on the pitch Shaw was in tears in United’s dressing room before going to hospital. Although his team-mates rallied impressively in the match to score before the interval through Memphis Depay, afterwards they were shocked at the severity of Shaw’s injury. At the team dinner, there was near-silence among the squad and members of staff because of the emotion the 20-year-old’s leg break had caused.

On Wednesday morning United confirmed Shaw had been operated on and would remain in Eindhoven to begin his recovery from what medical staff described as a clean break.

United, whose executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, visited Shaw in hospital on Wednesday, said: "Luke underwent surgery for his injury and will remain in hospital in Eindhoven to continue his early recovery. Manchester United are grateful for the excellent care he is receiving and would like to thank everyone who has sent messages of support. A further update will be provided in due course."

Mauricio Pochettino, who coached Shaw at Southampton, said he had spoken to Shaw on Wednesday morning. "He’s much better today but it is always difficult when you have that type of injury."

The Tottenham manager added: "I give my support and wish him a speedy recovery. It’s difficult because he was crying and you can understand that after a big injury – not only for the pain but for everything around the situation."

Moreno said of the incident: "I don’t know what happened. I don’t remember, I just feel really bad because I was involved in the accident. I feel really sorry. I think it was not a foul, 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, for his family."

The loss of Shaw is a blow to United. He had recaptured his best form after a difficult opening season following a £30m transfer from Southampton. Shaw’s pace had been harnessed by Louis van Gaal as an attacking threat, and the defender had been among the side’s best players in their eight matches.

United remain optimistic Shaw will play again this season, meaning he could yet be available for England in next summer’s European Championship in France. Until Shaw returns Van Gaal’s options to replace him at left-back are Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young.

Last year Blind acquitted himself well at left-back and it was he who slotted into Shaw’s berth against PSV. Although Rojo has been used mostly as a central defender, he was Argentina’s left-back at Brazil 2014 and was voted into the Fifa team of the tournament in the position.

If Van Gaal wishes to replace Shaw’s speed in attack he may be tempted to again use Young as an auxiliary left-back. The winger could then link with Depay as Shaw had successfully done.