Manchester United players have slammed Bayern Munich for getting teammate Rafael sent off during last night's Champions League heart break.

Rafael was shown a second yellow card for fouling Franck Ribery soon after halftime.

"[The referee] was pressured into giving [the red card] by the Bayern Munich players, everyone can see that," United midfielder Darren Fletcher said.

"He decided he wasn't going to give it, then he was pressured into it." Similarly, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar blamed the Bayern players - claiming it was "obvious" what they were doing as they needed the extra man to win the tie.

"Everybody knows who waves a card and they're very good at that," he said.

"Initially, I thought the referee wasn't going to do it and then they put some pressure on him."

The Dutchman added: "I think it was quite obvious at 11 vs 11 that on the counter, or on the way we pressed, we would have got another."