Blowing up ... Sir Alex Ferguson can't believe the send-off. Source: Jon Super / AP
Mike Phelan reported Manchester United's dressing room to be 'distraught' after the UEFA Champions League defeat by Real Madrid and described the decision to send off Nani as 'amazing'.
United appeared to be in control of the second leg of the last-16 tie when Nani's low cross early in the second half was turned into his own net by Sergio Ramos.
However, Nani was then shown a red card for catching Alvaro Arbeloa before goals from Luka Modric and United old boy Cristiano Ronaldo sent Real through 3-2 on aggregate.
Phelan attended the post-match press conference in place of Sir Alex Ferguson and explained the United boss was not in 'any fit state' to speak to Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir about the sending off.
"It's a distraught dressing room and a distraught manager," said Phelan. "That's why I'm sat here now.
"We thought we had the tactics right for the game for such a big occasion. We felt comfortable at times and 0-0 was where we wanted to be.
"We came out, scored a goal and that put us in a commanding position. Then the game totally changed.
"The decision was amazing, but we had to carry on. Playing Real Madrid with 11 men is very difficult and, in a game of this magnitude with all the world watching, we feel very, very disappointed that we ended the game with 10 men.
"I don't think the manager is any fit state to talk to the referee about the decision.
"I think it speaks volumes that I'm sat here speaking to you at this moment in time and not the manager of this fantastic football club.
"We all saw and witnessed a decision that seemed very harsh, possibly incredible, at that moment in the game."
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