Scot fuming about second-half dismissal of Nani.
Manchester United head coach Sir Alex Ferguson was said to be “too distraught” to be able to talk to the media following his club’s painful exit in the Champions League at the hands of La Liga title holders Real Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
The Spanish giants recorded a controversial 2-1 win in the second leg of their last 16 clash, meaning that the visitors progressed to the last eight of Europe’s premier club competition 3-2 on aggregate having played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg in the Spanish capital three weeks ago.
However, the United manager was visibly seething with Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir for showing a straight red card to Portugal international midfield player Luis Nani after 56 minutes following a high studs up challenge on Madrid full back Alvaro Arbeloa that completely changed the whole complexion of the tie.
At the time of Nani’s dismissal, the Red Devils has just taken a 1-0 lead on the night through an own goal from Madrid’s Spin international centre back Sergio Ramos and were in control of the contest.
A quarter-final place was seemingly theirs for the taking – until the shock intervention of the man in the middle.
“It’s a distraught dressing room and a distraught manager. That’s why I am sitting here now,” said United assistant manager Mike Phelan at the post-match press conference.
“I don’t think the manager is in any fit state to talk to the referee about the decision. It speaks volumes that I am sitting here now rather than the manager of this fantastic football club.”
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