Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has no doubts Wayne Rooney's absence is hurting Manchester United.

Ancelotti's Blues went top of the table with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday and he insists the absence of 34-goal Rooney, out for three weeks with a sprained ankle, was the key.

The Chelsea boss said: "They're not the same team without him.

"Rooney is a fantastic player who is difficult to replace with another player. Berbatov is good but Rooney is totally different.

"Rooney can sometimes come back to receive the ball and use it for all the team and then he can attack in any direction. He is an unbelievable player.

"It is not a good moment for United after losing to Bayern during the week and because they have lost a very important player.

"It's not easy for United to maintain their characteristic and momentum without Rooney. But they have the possibility to move on and I hope they get to the semi-final."