MANCHESTER UNITED - Fergie: Best team won
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson thought the controversial decisions in Sunday's 2-0 win against Chelsea evened themselves out and his side were worthy winners of the match.
Blues boss Avram Grant, taking charge of the team for the first time following Jose Mourinho's departure, thought his side were unlucky to have John Obi Mikel sent off and to concede a penalty, but Ferguson disagreed.
"I've seen the sending off incident and it was maybe a bit harsh, but there was intent there," said the veteran boss.
"It could have hurt the boy (Evra) but a lot of referees would have let it go. Then, when you see Joe Cole's tackle in the second half on Cristiano Ronaldo, that should have been a straight red card.
"It was right down the Achilles which is happening repeatedly to Cristiano. He got a yellow card, but it should have been red. I think the referee was perhaps balancing it out.
"The foul on Louis Saha for our penalty was a bit harsh, but I think that cancels out the one we should have got in the first half.
"We should have had a penalty kick (for Joe Cole's foul on Evra) in the first half, I think the cameras clearly show that. In tight games like that, the referee has to make big decisions quickly and he can get it wrong.
"But I thought we were the better team.
"Our football in the early parts of the match was outstanding - in the first half-hour we played as well as we have all season in terms of the penetration of our play, the movement and our passing.
"We could have been two or three up early on. Petr Cech made a great save from Wayne Rooney right at the start and we were dominant at that point.
"I think the real turning point was the goal just before half-time. It was a real blow to Chelsea. At that point we had complete control of the match."
Blues boss Avram Grant, taking charge of the team for the first time following Jose Mourinho's departure, thought his side were unlucky to have John Obi Mikel sent off and to concede a penalty, but Ferguson disagreed.
"I've seen the sending off incident and it was maybe a bit harsh, but there was intent there," said the veteran boss.
"It could have hurt the boy (Evra) but a lot of referees would have let it go. Then, when you see Joe Cole's tackle in the second half on Cristiano Ronaldo, that should have been a straight red card.
"It was right down the Achilles which is happening repeatedly to Cristiano. He got a yellow card, but it should have been red. I think the referee was perhaps balancing it out.
"The foul on Louis Saha for our penalty was a bit harsh, but I think that cancels out the one we should have got in the first half.
"We should have had a penalty kick (for Joe Cole's foul on Evra) in the first half, I think the cameras clearly show that. In tight games like that, the referee has to make big decisions quickly and he can get it wrong.
"But I thought we were the better team.
"Our football in the early parts of the match was outstanding - in the first half-hour we played as well as we have all season in terms of the penetration of our play, the movement and our passing.
"We could have been two or three up early on. Petr Cech made a great save from Wayne Rooney right at the start and we were dominant at that point.
"I think the real turning point was the goal just before half-time. It was a real blow to Chelsea. At that point we had complete control of the match."
source: www.football.co.uk
