You're off: Rafael is sent off as Mark Van Bommel looks onSir Alex Ferguson bitterly accused Bayern Munich’s players of getting Rafael da Silva sent off as Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney’s comeback from injury looked to have paid off when United went 3-0 up. But after he limped off, Bayern’s Arjen Robben hit a wonderful volley to make it 4-4 on aggregate and put the German side through on away goals.
Ferguson blamed defeat on Rafael’s dismissal for a second yellow card after half-time. He said: ‘Typical Germans. He’s young and inexperienced but they got him sent off. Everyone sprinted over to the referee. No doubt about it, the sending-off changed it.
'Bayern would never have won that game. With 11 men there was no problem.’
Bayern boss Louis van Gaal was unimpressed, saying: ‘I thought England was noted for fairness but that’s not what I call fair play. I think Sir Alex was disappointed.’
Rooney started eight days after damaging ankle ligaments in the 2-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena and had a hand in the first two goals as Darron Gibson and Nani put United two up inside seven minutes.
But having twisted awkwardly in the first half, Rooney took a cynical kick on his right ankle by Daniel van Buyten and was replaced in the 55th minute.
Sheer agony: Wayne Rooney hobbles off while Sir Alex Ferguson slams 'typical German' ploys such as timewastingFerguson said the Germans had targeted his 34-goal top scorer.
‘We expected that,’ added the United boss. ‘The referee is meant to handle that, but that wasn’t the key issue. The key issue was Bayern’s first goal. We didn’t get through to half-time and then the boy got sent off.
‘We took a risk with Wayne. I don’t think it’s serious. It’s just the issue with the tissue and the blood vessel keeps bursting.’
Nani’s second goal four minutes before half-time put United 3-0 ahead but Ivica Olic hit back almost immediately and former Chelsea winger Robben struck his decisive volley 16 minutes from time.
source: dailymail
