Speak no evil: Manchester United's Fergie 'not in fit state' to face media after red card says Phelan
Assistant manager is sent out to talk to the Press after
controversial sending-off of Nani PLUS Mourinho sympathy, of Special
sort
That's a debatable decision, referee! Fergie is furious
after Nani gets sent off
Getty
Furious Sir Alex Ferguson was too angry to talk as Manchester
United’s Treble dream was crushed by a controversial red card.
Cristiano
Ronaldo
came back to haunt United with the winner that sent Jose Mourinho’s side
through to the quarter-finals at the expense of his former club.
But
it was the 57th-minute dismissal of Nani - shown a straight red card
for a high tackle on Alvaro Arbeloa – that left Ferguson raging at
Turkish ref Cuneyt Cakir.
Ferguson, whose
gamble backfired in dropping Wayne Rooney to the bench, was too
distraught to speak after the defeat and left assistant Mike Phelan to
face the world’s media.
Phelan said: “I don’t think the manager is
in any fit state to talk to the referee about the decision. He's not Fergie: Assistant Manager Mike Phelan (at a
Manchester United press conference last year)
Matthew Peters
“I think it speaks volumes that I’m sitting here speaking to you and
not the manager.
“We all witnessed a decision which seemed harsh,
almost incredible, at that moment in the game.
“It’s a distraught
dressing room and a distraught manager and that’s why I’m sitting here
in front of you now.”
Madrid boss Mourinho said United did not
deserve to lose the tie and claimed his side were lucky to progress to
the last eight.
“The best team lost,” said Mourinho. “Irrespective
of the red card decision, the best team lost.
“We didn’t play
well and we didn’t deserve to win, but sometimes football is like this.
“United
were
playing very well. They were very compact, aggressive, very well
organised technically and the match was very difficult for us.
“I
doubt with 11 against 11 we could have won the match.
"Football at
this level is such a fine balance," he said. "Playing with a man down
for such a long period of time is going to change a lot.
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Man.United v Real Madrid
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"When we were against 10, we played very well for 10 minutes. We gave
them a new problem they couldn't solve.
"But I know Old Trafford
and what Sir Alex Ferguson could do.
"We couldn't control the game
by possession. That frustrated me.
Mourinho also paid tribute to
reserve keeper Diego Lopez, who made key late saves in place of
first-choice Iker Casillas as United chased the game: "In that moment
Diego Lopez gave us part of the victory.
"David de Gea was man of
the match in Madrid. Today it was Diego Lopez." Manager Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid celebrates as hie team
take a 1-2 lead on the night at Old Trafford
Getty
United took the lead when Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos turned the ball
into his own net in the 48th minute.
But
two goals in three minutes from substitute Luka Modric and Ronaldo left
United needing to score twice to go through, which proved beyond them.
Ronaldo
was
given a standing ovation by the United crowd and he said: “The
reception was unbelievable.
"It was an emotional moment for me,
for both games, especially tonight.
“I do not have words to
explain how I feel. The supporters made me feel shy as I did not play
how I play all the time.
“Anyway I helped my team, and I feel a
little happy inside, on the other hand I feel sad as Manchester United
are out.
“To be honest I did not see what Nani did, but these
situations happen in football.”
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