Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini has denied Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that the Spaniards targeted Cristiano Ronaldo for rough treatment last night.

The Manchester United winger was tightly marked, and Joan Capdevila was sent off with seven minutes to go for a high challenge on him in the 0-0 draw.

However, Pellegrini countered: "It was not a rough game, and you have to challenge Ronaldo."

Ferguson was pleased with the way Italian referee Roberto Rosetti handled a match in which both teams confirmed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The United manager claimed Ronaldo gets better protection in Europe than on the domestic scene.

Ferguson said: "The systematic fouling on him is what is happening in our game now. That is a tactic. Someone fouls him, then someone else has another foul.

"The referee thinks he is diving all the time, and the crowd are screaming. So that is the problem. The referee was very fair and strict with both teams. He [Capdevila] may not have got that red card in England - so there is different interpretation of the physical aspect of the game in European matches."

Ferguson revealed Wayne Rooney had apologised to him for going to ground too easily, believing he had won a penalty. The striker's action incensed the crowd, but Rosetti did not book him.

Ferguson said: "I think Wayne anticipated the challenge, because he was expecting a penalty kick. It is unusual for him to do that. I have seen it, and he has apologised to me."

And in a dig at Villarreal's former Arsenal winger, Robert Pires, Ferguson said: "I think he has been watching Pires too much. At least Wayne apologised to the Villarreal players. You would never see Pires do that."

Ferguson was at a loss to explain why United and Villarreal have played out four successive 0-0 draws. He said: "It is amazing in these four games we have not had a goal. I bet the public are hoping we do not meet in the final."