Alex Ferguson leapt to the defence of Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo following last night's goalless Champions League draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Inter coach Jose Mourinho was distinctly unimpressed with Cantalejo's handling of the game, seeing four of his players booked, including substitute goalkeeper Francesco Toldo who was yellow carded for protesting by the touchline.
But Ferguson felt the official was on top of his game, having refused to let Mourinho's mind games affect him.
'The referee was first class,' said Ferguson. 'He wasn't intimidated, which is probably what Jose wanted.'
Ferguson was ultimately disappointed with the outcome given United dominated the Serie A leaders, especially in the first half, without getting the precious away goal they so richly deserved.
Cristiano Ronaldo had four good chances, including a last-minute free kick that was saved by Julio Cesar, Ryan Giggs had another, while the visitors also went close on numerous other occasions.
It leaves Ferguson hoping his side can keep Inter out at Old Trafford and net a goal that would allow him to reduce the arrears in his personal duel with Jose Mourinho.
'I am disappointed we have not won the game,' admitted Ferguson, who has one victory in 13 attempts against the former FC Porto and Chelsea boss.
'But it is only half time, we still have another match to play at Old Trafford where we have a great record.
'I realise the tie is not finished but we have given ourselves a great chance.'
It is exactly the same scenario United faced following their semi-final with Barcelona last season.
On that occasion, a Paul Scholes effort was enough to squeeze into a final they eventually won by beating Chelsea in Moscow.
'You can see the maturity in our team now,' added Ferguson. 'There is always a threat of losing a goal when you do not score. But Barcelona were a fantastic team and we beat them.
'On that night we needed focus and concentration. It was outstanding then and it will have to be the same again.'
After predicting that United would adopt a cautious approach Mourinho found his team outgunned from the first whistle even though Ferguson had dropped a pre-match bombshell by leaving out Wayne Rooney.
The United manager's reasoning was that his side would probably need the extra height of record signing Dimitar Berbatov at set pieces, as Jonny Evans was expected to miss the game with an ankle injury.
Yet Evans made it, along with fellow injury victim John O'Shea, although Ferguson had gone too far with his plans to accommodate Rooney.
'I made the decision on Sunday because I thought Jonny would not be fit,' said Ferguson.
'I had already prepared Ryan Giggs to play in this particular match and so Dimitar played on his own up front. I thought he was fantastic.'
Ferguson's attention will now switch to Sunday's Carling Cup Final with Tottenham at Wembley, when a huge number of changes are expected.
'I can think about Inter in two weeks' time,' he said. 'Now I can look at Wembley and I would imagine there will be seven changes from tonight.'
