Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed sympathy with Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson after the Spanish side's controversial victory in the Champions League last 16.
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Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 at Old Trafford on Tuesday and complete a 3-2 aggregate win after United winger Nani had been controversially sent off for catching Alvaro Arbeloa in the chest as he tried to control a high ball.
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Ferguson shirked his media responsibilities after the match, while the home side's players walked through the mixed zone without speaking to waiting reporters.
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Assistant manager Mike Phelan faced journalists in the post-match media conference and he said the home side had felt betrayed by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir's decision to send Nani off.
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"I don't think the manager is in any fit state to talk to the referee about the decision," he said.
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"I think it speaks volumes that I'm here speaking to you and not the manager of this fantastic football club.
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"I think we all witnessed a decision which seemed very harsh, which seemed incredible in that moment of the game."
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Mourinho said United could have "no complaints" about Arbeloa's reaction to the challenge, but said he had experienced a similar situation in 2011, when Pepe was sent off in a Champions League semifinal loss to Barcelona.
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"(Nani's dismissal) had the same influence as the decision two years ago to send Pepe off in the semifinal," he said.
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"At this level, there's such a fine balance between such equally matched teams. Playing with one man down for such a long period is going to change a lot in the game."
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Ferguson unexpectedly omitted Wayne Rooney from his starting line-up but Mourinho felt the home side's tactical set-up had been cleverly devised and said the United manager was beyond reproach.