Carrick shocked by red card

(GSM) – Michael Carrick admits he was stunned by the red card he received at the end of Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Milan.

The midfielder was shown a second yellow card in stoppage-time after flicking the ball away following Patrice Evra’s foul on Alexandre Pato.

Sir Alex Ferguson said he wasn’t suprised by the decision and stated that Portuguese referee Olegario Benquerenca was right to dismiss Carrick.

However, Carrick disagreed with the referee and he felt he didn’t deserve the second booking, which rules the England international out of the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie in three weeks’ time.

“It was very soft to be honest,” Carrick told Sky Sports News.

“It rolled at me and I flicked it into Pat’s path as he’s ran past me.

“It wasn’t as if there was a player from their team trying to get it and it didn’t slow the game down in any way.

“I was just shocked really, to be honest.”

Asked if he spoke to the referee about the incident, Carrick replied: “What can you say really?

“He said it was for kicking the ball away, but I don’t believe I kicked the ball away to be honest.

“I didn’t slow the game down in any way, I was just surprised more than anything.”