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| Luke Shaw underwent surgery on Tuesday night after the horrific double leg break |
MANCHESTER UNITED are dismayed that UEFA selected the player who broke Luke Shaw's leg as their man of the match.
United officials, it is understood, feel it was highly insensitive for European football's governing body to pick PSV Eindhoven defender Hector Moreno as their star man from Tuesday's Champions League game after the controversy surrounding his reckless tackle that has left Shaw facing up to six months out of action.
United boss Louis van Gaal claimed Moreno should have been red-carded for the challenge only to discover UEFA's match panel had made the Mexico international the stand-out player from the Group B fixture in the Philips Stadion.
A club source said: "We found it strange and disappointing that UEFA made him man of the match after what happened to Luke."
UEFA compounded their insensitivity by carrying an interview with Moreno on their official website with no mention of the sickening incident that overshadowed the Group B game.
But Moreno, who broke his leg in last summer's World Cup, did speak to other media outlets to express his sorrow at Shaw's misfortune and insist that there was no malice in what he felt was a fair tackle.
He said: "I feel very bad about it. I am so sorry. I know how it feels and I know how difficult it is to recover from such an injury because I was in the same situation during the World Cup last summer.
"Was it a foul? I think not. It's difficult to say what happened. I don't really remember. I think I played the ball, but in this kind of situation I don't care if it was a foul or not, I just feel really bad for him and his family. Now I just hope he will be back as soon as possible. I am really sorry."
Shaw, 20, will remain in an Eindhoven hospital for a few days after having an operation on Tuesday night to repair the fibula and tibia bones fractured by the force of Moreno's 15th-minute challenge.
Sources close to the player say that because the breaks were clean Shaw could be back in under six months which means his hopes of playing for England in Euro 2016 are not over yet.
Before flying back to Manchester with the rest of the squad yesterday, Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, visited Shaw in hospital where he was comforted by his parents, who were at Tuesday's game and were left distraught at their son's misfortune.
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| Shaw received oxygen after sustaining the injury |
Daley Blind admitted Shaw's horrific injury shattered the United players but refused to blame the incident on their surprise defeat.
Blind, who took over Shaw's left-back role, said: "It's always a massive blow if one of your team-mates incurs an injury like that. We are a strong team unit so it cuts into you.
"It's something you may not actually be influenced by at the time but sub-consciously it gets into your heads. But you have to let it pass. And we can't blame the defeat on the injury."
Former top referee Howard Webb last night sprang to Moreno's defence however and backed Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli's decision not to show him the red card.
"Shaw's injury was awful and I wish him a speedy recovery," said Webb, now a BT Sport pundit. "But I have got to say that the referee made the right decision. 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 the referee made the right decision."
United, who visit Shaw's former club Southampton on Sunday, issued a statement yesterday that said: "Luke underwent surgery for his injury last night 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."
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