LONDON – Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson laughed off Chelsea’s penalty claims after his side grabbed a precious first leg lead in their Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea looked to have won a clear spot-kick in injury time after Patrice Evra clattered into Blues midfielder Ramires in the penalty area. But Spanish referee Alberto Undiano infuriated Chelsea’s players after waving away their claims before United went on to seal their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 2002. Television replays showed Evra had clearly taken out Ramires without touching the ball but Ferguson shrugged off Chelsea’s complaints, saying his team had been due a break. “I haven’t seen it but if it was a penalty, it’s the first decision we’ve got here in seven years,” Ferguson said. “I don’t feel guilty about that all. It was a 50-50 challenge and I don’t know what the contact situation was. I’d need to see it again.” Ferguson was left furious last month after United were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in the Premier League. The United manager’s post-match tirade aimed at referee Martin Atkinson ultimately earned Ferguson a five-match touchline ban. But Ferguson left Stamford Bridge a satisfied man on Wednesday after watching United produce one of their best performances of the season to secure a result that leaves them with one foot in the semi-finals. As well as a match-winning contribution from under-fire striker Wayne Rooney, Ferguson was able to reflect on the successful return of Rio Ferdinand, playing his first match for more than two months following a calf injury.
