Victor Lindelof missed Manchester United' s 2-1 win over Watford on Saturday after receiving death threats over his absence from international duty with Sweden last week.
The defender was absent for his side's 2-1 win against Romania and 3-3 draw with Norway during the international break in order to attend the birth of his first child.
His wife, Maja, brought the couple's newborn son to Old Trafford for Saturday's game, and watched from the stands as goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial helped the hosts ease past their visitors.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskhaer, who was taking charge of his first game in permanent charge of the club, said the defender had been left out as he had "a couple of things to sort out."
Lindelof told Swedish channel Viasat: "I have not followed it so much but focused on what has been important to me and that is Maja. People always wonder what lies behind things.
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"What I cannot understand is how people cannot respect that is a personal reason. For me it is quite sick that you can not only respect it and release it."
The Swede signed for United from Benfica in 2017 but struggled to pin down a regular place in then-manager Jose Mourinho's side last season, making just 17 starts in the Premier League.
He has been a more regular presence this term, and has started in all but six of the Old Trafford club's league outings en route to becoming one of the team's more reliable defensive influences.
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Solskjaer said of his decision to leave out Lindelof: "We felt Victor was better off not playing because he's had a couple of things to sort out, that's no problem. He'll be all right."
United moved up to fourth in the Premier League with victory over the Hornets, briefly supplanting Arsenal who play against Newcastle on Sunday.
