Fergie blast for Germans

Rooney injury 'not too serious' as United exit Europe

Last updated: 8th April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

There was no threat and the referee wasn't going to do anything about it until they surrounded him. It is typical of Germans. They are like that.

Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Sir Alex Ferguson blamed Bayern Munich's players for Rafael's red card as Manchester United crashed out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on away goals.

The young full-back, booked in the first half for a petulant kick on Mark van Bommel, was dismissed by referee Nicola Rizzoli on the 50th minute after pulling back Franck Ribery.

It proved to be the pivotal moment in a match which United had looked in control of as they roared into a 3-0 lead inside 41 minutes, swiftly overturning their 2-1 deficit from the Allianz Arena with goals from Darron Gibson and a superb Nani brace.

But Ivica Olic pulled one back with a goal out of nothing before the break, while Wayne Rooney appeared to injure his right ankle once again having been handed a shock start by Ferguson.

And the Scot was left fuming by Bayern's tactics as they surrounded Italian official Rizzoli following Rafael's tug on Ribery, with the 10 men unable to hold out as Arjen Robben volleyed home a stunning goal to seal a 4-4 aggregate draw and book a semi-final date with Lyon.

Like that

"It was 35 yards from goal," said Ferguson of Rafael's tug on the France international.

"There was no threat and the referee wasn't going to do anything about it until they surrounded him. It is typical of Germans. They are like that."

Ferguson was left bemused by United's exit, with the Red Devils looking in control as they roared into an early lead before losing their way badly.

He added: "It is hard to digest something like that. It was a top performance.

"In one way you could say we have thrown it away, in another you could argue we were very unlucky."

Ferguson immediately set his side the task of winning their final five Premier League games to try and exert some pressure on title favourites Chelsea.

However, it looks like they will be starting that quest at Blackburn on Sunday without 34-goal Rooney, who aggravated his ankle injury early in the contest and left the action in the 55th minute.

Knock

"He got a knock which was similar to last week," said the United boss. "It is a burst blood vessel below the ankle. He won't be out for too long."

After claiming on Tuesday that Rooney had "no chance" of being involved, Ferguson revealed that the about-turn was only confirmed on Wednesday morning, once he had spoken to medical staff about a work-out Rooney had put himself through.

"He had a training session yesterday and did everything we could have asked of him," said Ferguson. "The medical people thought there was no danger, other than he might feel it in the second half, so we felt it was worth the risk.

"Unfortunately he went over on the ankle again. There were a couple of challenges on him and I don't think he got any protection from the referee but it is not too serious.

"I don't think he will be ready for Sunday but he should be available for next week."

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Comments (32)

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Stu Ward (Everton fan) says...

The gloating by fans of teams other than Manchester United is pretty petty! Although 'Theatre of Debt' is quite funny. I'm disappointed an English team were knocked out of a european competition. End of.

Posted 09:31 8th April 2010

Terry Gibson (Luton Town fan) says...

Steve Riley, denying a goal scoring opportunity is one reason for giving a red card, but not the only one. At Swindon on Monday a Tranmere player was sent off for kicking an opponent and the ball wasn't even in play. Fergie is just throwing his toys out of the pram as usual.

Posted 09:30 8th April 2010

Ed Hart (Manchester United fan) says...

WOW! Manchester United don't win something and look......every other football team supporter jumps on the band wagon to slate them. The majority of premier league teams would be talking about it for years if their team reached the quarter finals of the champions league, yet we do it season in season out, and has been in the final for the past two seasons, aswell as winning it, not to mention the league for 3 years on the trot and dominating the PL for the past 20 years. Why can't other fans sometimes just admire what United do? We dont do a city or a chelsea or a Madrid and buy every amazing player, we make amazing players e.g. Giggs, scholes, beckham, fletcher, macheda, rafael, gibson. And who had heard of Ronaldo before we made him?? Ok yes we occationally splash out on players of quality like rooney, but we build a team, not a team of individuals. Appreciate United for what they are, a world-class English team with passion and success. Stop the constant digs when we slip up, its embarrassing and only symbolises your jealousy. Oh and Fulham being in Europe longer than us.....true and good on them, shame its only Europa.....

Posted 09:29 8th April 2010

Dave Gill (Middlesbrough fan) says...

I have no sympathy ever for any team who, on the big occasion, aren't sufficiently disciplined to keep eleven men on the pitch. Dave Gill.

Posted 09:28 8th April 2010

Chris M (Manchester United fan) says...

Smart from Fergie. On a morning where Rafael will be feeling like a prize fool and carrick (should) be feeling awful, Fergie deflects the attention onto himself. You think he wouldn't be expecting all these comments? He has rather thick skin and has been doing this sort of thing for years, top class. RE: Rooney and england, seriously mate? You want a club who pay his wages every week to wrap him up in cotton wool just to benefit England? Be realistic

Posted 09:27 8th April 2010

Pappy Konjo says...

Swallow the pill, Fergie... you've been beaten at your own game. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Posted 09:26 8th April 2010

B Rajan (Manchester United fan) says...

Rooney should have been on the bench to start with. Worse still Rooney should have been taken off after hurting his ankle after 25 mins or so. After than he touched the ball 7 times or so and was a passenger. United were playing with 10 men at that point, and after Raf"Red Card"ael, United were playing with 9 men and Berbatov did next to nothing. Sir Alex got it wrong and no point blaming anyone else. United had enough chances to make it 6 or 7.

Posted 09:25 8th April 2010

Dylan Corrigan (Manchester United fan) says...

Rafael did deserve his red card and the United fans that cheered him off are fools, they weren't cheering when Robben's shot went in at the post that Rafael would have been stood on and when the final whistle went. As for pointing the finger of blame Fergie needs to take a long hard look at himself, he played Rooney for 45 minutes when he was clearly injured and persists in playing Carrick who was at fault for both goals. What was he thinking for the first goal he gave away? His mistake overshadowed Van Der Saar's poor attempt at keeping the ball out, I hope Kusacuk gets a start next season. As for Carrick when will he learn that players aren't just in front of you, he gets robbed of the ball every game, that's why no Engalnd manager fancies him as he is a liability. If ever a player was told by his manager that he doesn't rate him it was Berbatov last night, rather than have a centre forward on the pitch when your down to 10 men Fergie would rather play a midfielder up front, sorry Berbs not a United player and you should be shown the exit door this summer. Another season of underachievement in Europe and it is no ones fault but ours, Bayern beat what was in front of them, I just hope Fergie pulls his finger out and buys a decent centre forward and goal scoring midfielder this summer, I won't be sad to see the back of Carrick and Berbatov, good players but not good enough.

Posted 09:23 8th April 2010

Chris White (Manchester United fan) says...

Im sorry but Rafael deserved to be sent walking! He showed a real lack of experience and sheer stupidity in the 1st half bringing down van bommel like that, right infront of the lines man. Yes bayern did surround the ref and help influence his decision BUT no more than any other team in the world would have done INCLUDING man utd! End of the day its over and wasnt meant to be. Move on and consentrate on winning all the premier league's remaining games an hope that chelsea slip up.

Posted 09:23 8th April 2010

Steve Riley (Manchester United fan) says...

These supporters of other teams pretending to be making sound comments on the match and the sending-off are just gloating. They can't bear United's relentless, year-on-year successes and their own teams' inadequacies. United can't win everything every time, and these guys just want to put the boot in on this rare occasion when they've got the opportunity. I mean - why bother to comment on some team other than your own, otherwise? Someone said that distance from goal doesn't matter. Has he never heard of judgments being made on the basis of whether a player had a goal-scoring opportunity, whether they were heading for goal, whether they were being tackled by the last defender? Raphael shouldn't have retaliated, but where was the punishment for the foul he rerailated to? The second yellow was for a routine tussle for the ball of the sort that goes on all over the pitch all of the time. The ieda that he was so dirty a player that he had to be sent from the field of play is absurd. And players who surround and bully the referee - theirs, ours, anybody's - should be booked. That would soon bring an end to it.

Posted 09:02 8th April 2010

Samus Mcquillan (Liverpool fan) says...

How many times will Man utd have to get beaten by refs that forget that Ferguson has rewritten the rules to allow Utd to win all games? 3 games no wins 3 bad refs and proof 1 man team? In addition, should Ferguson get done for totally racist remarks??? Funny how Fulham lasting longer in Europe than Utd

Posted 09:01 8th April 2010

Karl Johnson (Stoke City fan) says...

Strange there are no comments from Man U fans. Probably still licking their wounds! Face it you can't win everything, sometimes you have to admit defeat instead of making yourselves look stupid by coming out with hatever rubbish you feel will justify your cause. Fare play you were beaten by probably one of the best strikes I've seen this season but please have the balls to admit it!

Posted 09:00 8th April 2010

Jon W (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...

It just shows how much ManU rely on the ref letting them off in the domestic games. You finally get a ref who wasn't scared to send a ManU player off and apparantly that ruined the game. You can't blame the ref for 2 yellows anyway. They were both deserved and the first could have been a straight red so you were lucky there anyway. When a player is on a yellow card than you Fergie have a choice to sub that player off. You didn't and now you have to pay for that.

Posted 08:58 8th April 2010

Benjamin Coutts (Newcastle United fan) says...

I don't know why Ferguson is complaining about how Bayern surrounded the ref, Man Utd do it at every given opportunity, so Ferguson please can you just for once take defeat like a man and stop blaming everything but your tactics.

Posted 08:58 8th April 2010

Dave Wilson (Montrose fan) says...

Listen. Fergie maybe be upset that Rafael got HIMSELF sent off and that Bayern pressurised the ref. Doesn't every team do that when the opportunity arises. Yes even Man utd!!. Man U had the chance to wrap it up and let Bayern back in. No excuses Fergie. Looks like Bayern wanted it more.

Posted 08:41 8th April 2010

Gordon Carlo (Chelsea fan) says...

Same old Fergie, never takes defeat like a man, he should be ashamed. Rafa deserved to be sent off build a wall and get over it. Barcelona will win the Champions League anyway so best get out of the way. Mancs singing Chelsea rent boy, i bet thats stuck in there throats now, what a goal!!! biggest cheer in the whole of England

Posted 08:39 8th April 2010

Tony Teesdale (Peterborough United fan) says...

"That's typical of the Germans"? Alex dear you have an extremely selective memory - if ever there was a case of the pot calling the kettle black then this is it. Man U players have been doing the same for years, they are renowned for it. A clear case of just desserts. Ferguson is just teed off because for once the referee failed to favour Manchester United. It makes a very refreshing change

Posted 08:39 8th April 2010

Potkettleblack Messiisgod says...

"People in glass houses" Mr Sir Alex "People in glass houses!!!!!!!"

Posted 08:38 8th April 2010

Satan Satanas (Manchester United fan) says...

Fergie needs to quit crying & attempt to find a way to salvage the season at the top of the EPL. United were up by three goals & let Bayern score two. That's the way it goes.

Posted 08:38 8th April 2010

Amanu Hayter (Liverpool fan) says...

Dont you just love the sheer irony of Man U's response about BM influencing the Ref... poetic justice!!!!

Posted 08:37 8th April 2010
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