Mourinho: Better Team Lost

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho admitted Manchester United would probably have beaten his side had Nani not been dismissed in the second half of Tuesday’s Champions League clash.

The Reds were a Sergio Ramos own goal to the good and in the ascendency when Nani was shown a straight red card by referee Cuneyt Cakir for a foot-high tackle on Alvaro Arbeloa just before the hour mark.

The decision completely changed the game and, courtesy of goals from substitute Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo, Real came from behind to win the last 16 tie 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

Mourinho said: "Independent of the [referee’s] decision, the best team lost. We didn't play well. We didn't deserve to win. But football is like this. I am not speaking about the decision because I am not sure of it."

Real have recently produced two stunning wins over Barcelona but their failure to sparkle at Old Trafford was down to United’s superior tactics, according to Mourinho.

"My feeling is that Manchester United were playing very well, were very compact and aggressive in a good way," the Portuguese said.

"They were very tactically well organised and the match was very difficult for us. I had the feeling Modric changed the game as he brought qualities we did not have before.

"I doubt that 11 v 11 we win the match. I am frustrated as we played so well against Barcelona and today, I was waiting for more.

"I know United are giants, not just physically but mentally. I know they have a manager who can motivate them, but I was waiting for us to play in a different way."

After Real's second goal, United threw caution to the wind and finished the game on top, denied an equaliser and possibly more only by the heroics of goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Mourinho continued: "When we were against 10, we played very well for 10 minutes. We created them new problems with [Mesut] Ozil wide and Modric and Kaka both behind [Gonzalo] Higuain. I think it was a new problem for them that they couldn't solve with 10 men. We deserve credit for that.

"But at the end of the match, we couldn't control the possession, which frustrated me because we had one player more. We should have controlled the match but we couldn't and at that moment we had Diego Lopez.

"To have a fantastic keeper who gives us victory is also part of the game. [David] De Gea was the man of the match in Madrid and today the man of the match was Diego Lopez."

Real midfielder Xabi Alonso added: "It was a difficult decision to take from the referee, but we have seen in many previous games that it can be harder playing against 10 men.

"We produced our best minutes after the sending-off. After that, United pushed really hard, it was difficult not to concede and our goalkeeper was fantastic."

Mourinho and Alonso were speaking to Sky Sports and ITV Sport.