Héctor Moreno has offered an apology to Luke Shaw for the tackle that broke the left-back’s leg in two places during Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Shaw suffered a double fracture of his right leg after 15 minutes of the 2-1 defeat in the opening game of Group B at the Philips Stadion when Moreno challenged him in the PSV area.
“I don’t know what happened,” said Moreno of the tackle that went unpunished by the referee Nicola Rizzoli. “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 Mexican suffered a broken leg while playing against Holland at Brazil 2014 when Louis van Gaal, the United manager, coached his nation at the tournament.
He added: “I don’t know how bad it is. I had that situation myself during the World Cup. It’s difficult to say what happened. Now I just hope he will be back as soon as possible.”
Shaw needed treatment on the pitch for nine minutes and required oxygen before being taken to hospital. The injury will rule him out for at least six months, though Van Gaal remains hopeful the England defender could play again this season.
The United manager said: “He has a double leg fracture and is in hospital. He will be transferred on Wednesday or maybe a day later and then operated on in Manchester.
“It is awful – a boy who comes to Manchester United at 18, has it very difficult and then plays fantastically and then this happens. When he was in the dressing room he had an oxygen mask on. He was crying.”
“I am not a doctor but when you have a double fracture it is six months and he will not play in the group phase. I hope he can play again this season.”
A tweet on Shaw’s account read: “Thank you everyone for your messages, words can’t describe how gutted I am, my road to recovery starts now, I will come back stronger.”
United’s Daley Blind said the incident may have had an impact on United’s players but they would not use it as an excuse for the defeat.
He said: “It’s something you may not actually be influenced by at that time but you can be unaware that perhaps you are unconsciously sympathising with him.
“It’s a defeat and saying this should not pass the buck but it’s a massive blow if such a person incurs an injury like this. We are a strong team unit so it cuts into you. Maybe it gets into your heads but you have to let it pass.
“We played well in the first half. We created many chances and had the opportunity to decide the game then. In the second half we did not create a lot and they eventually benefit from an error.”
