London, England

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho expressed sympathy for Manchester United when it lost Nani to a red card that doomed its chances in the Champions League, saying he also suffered the same fate two years ago.

"I think Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was like I was a couple of years ago about Pepe's sending off against Barcelona two years ago," Mourinho said, referring to his former team Chelsea's match against Barcelona in 2011.

Without Nani, the ten-man Manchester United succumbed to Real Madrid, 2-1, ending its Champions League campaign on a controversial note.

Nani was ejected for a second-half foul after he challenged Alvaro Arbeloa, a move that could have merited just a yellow card, according to Mourinho.

"At this level of competition one player less for a long time changes many things. But there is a difference. That was a dive, this was not. It was a challenge in which he caught Arbeloa and that was the decision. But I do not want to get into that," Mourinho said.

"I am critical of players who dive, those who push the referee when he makes a mistake. That was not the case. There is a pretty strong contact between Nani and Arbeloa and the referee decided to show the red card, maybe a yellow would have been better," he added.

Mourinho admitted that Nani's ejection was a decisive factor in Real Madrid's win over United.

"The best team lost tonight, but we must also say that these things happen in football," Mourinho said.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who delivered the winning goal against his former team, said referee's decisions were part of the game.

"These things happen in football and are refereeing decisions," said Ronaldo, adding that he has yet to talk to Nani about the incident.

 

Referee Cuneyt Cakir's sending-off of the Portuguese winger Nani divided opinion but proved the turning point as the Red Devils' tactical perfection was undermined, their treble hopes ended

Manchester United v Real Madrid - Report