Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti questioned the courage of the referee after Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League quarterfinal first leg defeat by Manchester United on Wednesday.



Ancelotti said it was “clear” Patrice Evra fouled Ramires but Alberto Undiano Mallenco denied the hosts a chance to equalise after Wayne Rooney’s goal.



“It’s not easy to give the penalty in the last minute,” the Blues boss said.



“You need to have personality, courage and character. Not always do referees have these kind of skills.”



Ramires was through on goal when Evra wrapped his legs around the midfielder and hauled him to the ground inside the box.



The Spanish referee waved away strong appeals for a penalty and was confronted by Ancelotti on the pitch after the final whistle.



The west Londoners must now overhaul an away goal when the two sides meet at Old Trafford in the second leg on April 12.



“It was clear. For everyone. Everyone knows it was clear,” Italian Ancelotti added.



“I’m disappointed but this is the result. Not just the referee, but the assistant was in the right position to decide that was a penalty.



“I said to the referee [after the game] that it was a penalty and he needed to whistle. He said nothing. No answer.



“The players are aggrieved. But we have to forget it and be focused for the next game. We have to try our best there.”



United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took a different view and suggested that if his side were fortunate it was no more than they deserved.



“Yeah, someone said it could have been a penalty. It was the first penalty decision we’ve had in seven years, so we’re due one,” the Scot said.



“But I don’t feel guilty about that at all. It was a 50-50 from where I was and I don’t know what the contact situation was.”



And regarding a second penalty claim from Chelsea, this time when Fernando Torres tumbled, Ferguson took a stronger stance and insisted: “He dived, he got booked for it.”


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