Sir Alex Ferguson was angered by the behaviour of Bayern Munich's players as Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League on away goals.

Ferguson felt referee Nicola Rizzoli was pressured into showing United defender Rafael his second yellow card.

Ferguson said: "The young boy showed a bit of inexperience but they got him sent off, everyone sprinted towards the referee - typical Germans."

United led 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate when Rafael was sent off for tugging back Franck Ribery, and Bayern then went on to win a pulsating tie on away goals thanks to Arjen Robben's spectacular volley.

Ferguson insisted that the dismissal changed the course of the game, saying: "There is no doubt about it. They were never getting through that tie, with 11 men we had no problem."

And asked later whether he stood by his contention that the Bayern players had been wrong to protest about Rafael's challenge on Ribery, Ferguson confirmed: "Yes. It was typical professionalism in a way but they saw the opportunity and they almost forced the referee to get the card out - the referee wasn't going to do anything. But we've seen it before from teams like that.

"The Bayern players got him sent off, there's no doubt about that. It was only a little tug of the lad 35 yards from goal, they're not even a goal threat at that point.