Manchester United 3 Bayern Munich 2: Ferguson vents his anger after Reds tumble out

Despite beating the German side on the night, United went out on away goals, with Ferguson convinced the dismissal of Rafael for his second bookable offence shortly after the break was the pivotal moment.

"It was 35 yards from goal," said Ferguson of Rafael's tug on Franck Ribery's arm.

"There was no threat and the referee wasn't going to do anything about it until they surrounded him. It is typical of Germans. They are like that."

Ferguson's allegation was met with a swift rebuttal from Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, who was also unimpressed by the United manager's assertion that the Germans would not have gone through if their hosts had retained 11 players, or claims that the visiting team targeted Wayne Rooney's delicate ankle.

"I thought England was noted for fairness," said van Gaal. "I have been confronted with three comments. It is not what I call fair play.

"I do not share Sir Alex's opinion. Control is part of being a professional footballer. Every player must know his job.

"If you pick up one yellow card, a second means a sending-off. Every player should know that and it was a yellow card offence. It was the player who made the foul.

"As for United winning with 11, we will never know that, neither Sir Alex nor me because this game will not be played again.

"It is easy to say these things after a loss."

It had all looked so good for United after a flying start that wiped out Bayern's first-leg lead and had the hosts in front after just seven minutes.

Surprise selection Darron Gibson put the Red Devils ahead when he finished off a flowing move in fine style, then Nani steered home Antonio Valencia's cross to send the home fans into raptures.

When the Portugal winger added another late in the first half, it seemed United would canter into the semi-finals.

Instead, Ivica Olic netted just before the break and once Rafael departed soon after the restart, United had their backs to the wall. It took a wonder strike from Arjen Robben to send the visitors through, United not having the energy to mount any kind of response.

"It is hard to digest something like that," said Ferguson. "It was a top performance.

"In one way you could say we have thrown it away, in another you could argue we were very unlucky."

As they trudged dejectedly off the Old Trafford pitch you had to wonder whether this was the moment which heralded a shift in power in European football.

All sport goes in cycles and England have dominated Europe's premier competition for a decade.

They have had a representative in the semi-finals for each of the last seven years, three teams in the semi-finals for the past three years.

But this time Liverpool went out feebly in the group phase, Chelsea lost out to former manager Jose Mourinho and his Inter Milan side at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal were given a footballing lesson by Barcelona.

Credit should go to the Germans. Not the greatest Bayern Munich side, it is true, but containing menace in Robben and Ribery and with honest workers throughout.

Yet, by rights, they should not be the first German side to reach the last four for eight years. Not after United's exhilarating start.

Ferguson immediately set his side the task of winning their final five Premier League games to try to exert some pressure on title favourites Chelsea.

However, it looks like they will be starting that quest at Blackburn on Sunday without 34-goal Rooney, who aggravated his ankle injury early in the contest after Ferguson had decided playing the forward was a risk worth taking.

"He got a knock which was similar to last week," said the United boss.

"It is a burst blood vessel below the ankle. He won't be out for too long."

After claiming on Tuesday that Rooney had "no chance" of being involved yesterday evening, Ferguson revealed that the about-turn was only confirmed yesterday morning, once he had spoken to medical staff about a work-out Rooney had put himself through.

"He had a training session (on Tuesday) and did everything we could have asked of him," said Ferguson.

"The medical people thought there was no danger, other than he might feel it in the second-half, so we felt it was worth the risk.

"Unfortunately he went over on the ankle again. There were a couple of challenges on him and I don't think he got any protection from the referee but it is not too serious. I don't think he will be ready for Sunday but he should be available for next week (against Manchester City)."

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick (Berbatov 80), Gibson (Giggs 80), Valencia, Rooney (O'Shea 55), Nani. Unused substitutes: Kuszczak, Scholes, Jonathan Evans, Macheda.

Bayern Munich: Butt, Lahm, Van Buyten, Demichelis, Badstuber, Robben (Altintop 76), Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Olic (Pranjic 84), Muller (Gomez 46). Unused substitutes: Rensing, Klose, Contento, Tymoschuk.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).