MANCHESTER, England, March 6 (Reuters) – When the raw pain of their Champions League exit subsides and Manchester United look forward to the trophies they can still win this season, one player who may find the gloom harder to shift is out-of-favour Wayne Rooney.

The shock omission from the starting line-up for United’s biggest game of the season in the second leg of their last 16 tie against Real Madrid was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Nani’s red card and Ronaldo’s Old Trafford return.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo has celebrated dozens of goals at Old Trafford but Tuesday’s winner for Real Madrid against Manchester United was the first time he held up his hands in apology after scoring.

The Portuguese, who spent six years at United from 2003, completed a 2-1 comeback win for Real who went through to the Champions League quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was sympathetic to Manchester United’s anger over the red card for Nani that was the turning point in Tuesday’s Champions League clash and said his rivals should have won.

It is a rare admission by a manager, especially in such a high-profile match, that he sympathises with the losing side but Mourinho felt the 56th minute dismissal of the winger was as unfortunate as that of his player Pepe in the 2011 semi-final.

MANCHESTER, England, March 5 (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo has celebrated dozens of goals at Old Trafford but Tuesday’s winner for Real Madrid against Manchester United was the first time he held up his hands in apology after scoring.

The Portuguese, who spent six years at United from 2003, completed a 2-1 comeback win for Real who went through to the Champions League quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was sympathetic to Manchester United’s anger over the red card for Nani that was the turning point in Tuesday’s Champions League clash and said his rivals should have won.

It is a rare admission by a manager, especially in such a high-profile match, that he sympathises with the losing side but Mourinho felt the 56th minute dismissal of the winger was as unfortunate as that of his player Pepe in the 2011 semi-final.

MANCHESTER, England, March 5 (Reuters) – Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was sympathetic to Manchester United’s anger over the red card for Nani that was the turning point in Tuesday’s Champions League clash and said his rivals should have won.

It is a rare admission by a manager, especially in such a high-profile match, that he sympathises with the losing side but Mourinho felt the 56th minute dismissal of the winger was as unfortunate as that of his player Pepe in the 2011 semi-final.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Former Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner against his old club to give Real Madrid a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

United, 1-0 up in the game after Real defender Sergio Ramos put through his own goal in the 48th minute and 2-1 ahead on aggregate, were sent reeling in a 10-minute spell midway through the second half as Real secured a 3-2 aggregate success.

MANCHESTER, England, March 5 (Reuters) – Former Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner against his old club to give Real Madrid a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

United, 1-0 up in the game after Real defender Sergio Ramos put through his own goal in the 48th minute and 2-1 ahead on aggregate, were sent reeling in a 10-minute spell midway through the second half as Real secured a 3-2 aggregate success.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Ryan Giggs made his 1,000th competitive appearance when Manchester United kicked off their Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old, whose record is made up of 932 appearances for his club, 64 for Wales and four for Britain’s Olympic team, made his senior debut as a 17-year-old substitute in United’s 2-0 defeat by Everton on March 2, 1991.

MANCHESTER, England, March 5 (Reuters) – Ryan Giggs made his 1,000th competitive appearance when Manchester United kicked off their Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old, whose record is made up of 932 appearances for his club, 64 for Wales and four for Britain’s Olympic team, made his senior debut as a 17-year-old substitute in United’s 2-0 defeat by Everton on March 2, 1991.