Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to bench Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney for last night's Champions League defeat should not be questioned.

The England international's omission came as a surprise before the match, which ended 2-1 to Madrid, 3-2 on aggregate, following a controversial refereeing decision, which resulted in the sending-off of Nani due to a high challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa.

"Sir Alex won the right over the years," ESPN quotes Mourinho as saying. "Every decision is correct and should never had a question mark in front. He is the best and he creates an incredible history. You (reporters) are nobody, I am nobody to put a question mark."

The snub has caused some to compare the decision to that of Ferguson's in 2003, when he dropped David Beckham against Madrid just months before the midfielder left for the Bernabeu.