Manchester United saw their Champions League return turn into a

nightmare on Tuesday as they not only fell 2-1 against PSV Eindhoven but

also lost full-back Luke Shaw with a double fracture of the leg in

their Group B opener.

Despite an opening goal by winger Memphis Depay against his former

Dutch club, United — who dominated throughout — failed to capitalise

on their chances and goals from Hector Moreno and Luciano Narsingh gave

the hosts victory.

However, worse than the defeat was the injury to Shaw, which came

just 15 minutes into the match following a crunching Moreno tackle,

leaving the England international with a double fracture that requires

an operation when he returns to Manchester and could put his

participation at Euro 2016 next summer in jeopardy. 

Shaw was wheeled off the field breathing through an oxygen mask to

loud applause from PSV’s fans before being substituted by Marcos Rojo

for his first appearance of the season.

“It’s horrible. When he was going in the dressing room, he was with

the oxygen mask, he was crying,” United manager Louis van Gaal said

after the match.

Asked how long he thought Shaw’s recovery would take Van Gaal said:

“I am not a doctor, so I can’t say. A double fracture, it generally

takes six months, but you can never say in advance.”

Around half an hour after being wheeled off, though, Shaw took to Twitter to vow that he would make a full recovery.

“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,”

he tweeted.

Mexican international Moreno, who broke his own leg in last year’s

World Cup against the Netherlands, afterwards profusely apologised.

“I just feel really bad because I was involved in the accident,” he told journalists.

“I’m really sorry. I think I played the ball.

“I just hope he’ll be back as soon as possible.”

The result continued Van Gaal’s poor record at the Philips Stadium

with Ajax, Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar and now with United, winning just twice

in 11 attempts.

The former Netherlands coach, who took over the reins at Old Trafford

last year, saw his run of bad luck continue in the southern Dutch city

with PSV tenaciously clinging on to a narrow lead for an historic win. 

The 21-year-old Depay struck in the 41st minute when fellow Dutchman

Daley Blind slid him in to slice past two PSV defenders and then find

the back of PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet’s net with a crisp left-foot

finish.

As promised, Depay celebrated his goal in front the fans who used to

revere him, but United’s fortunes were short-lived when PSV struck back

just before half-time.

Mexico defender Moreno’s header from a Maxime Lestienne corner

glanced off Blind’s head, before beating David de Gea and Ashley Young

on the line. 

PSV laid their cards on the table in the second half, with right wing

Luciano Narsingh heading in a beautifully-timed Lestienne cross past De

Gea to find the left hand corner of the United goal.

Although Depay impressed throughout the first half, United were rail-roaded by PSV’s dogged defence.

PSV’s defence was up against the wall but impressed with their

rigorous resistence, while United’s French multi-million pound signing

Anthony Martial several times failed to capitalise in front of goal.

Despite a furious United onslaught in the second half, led by Young,

PSV’s defensive formation held firm to open their account with maximum

points. 

The Philips Stadium erupted in huge celebrations at the final whistle

with PSV celebrating a successful return to the competition for the

first time since the 2008/09 season.

It was also PSV’s first Champion’s League victory over United since 2000.