Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has defended himself in the wake of criticism from Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini over his influence in Vincent Kompany's dismissal on Sunday.

Mancini criticised Rooney for holding two fingers up to ref Chris Foy, to indicate Kompany's challenge on Nani was two-footed and therefore worthy of a straight red card, which the official produced.

But Rooney, speaking to Italian newspaper La Republica, said: "It's a question of points of view. He claimed that I encouraged the referee to send off Kompany with a gesture.

"If it were like that, every player who makes that gesture after suffering a foul would direct the game in place of the referee and obviously it can't be like that.

"The fact it was a legitimate sending-off was confirmed by the four-match suspension and the rejection of the appeal."