Manchester, England (dpa) - Chelsea's new first-team coach Avram Grant struck a familiar note as he blamed the referee for his side's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United Sunday.
The former Israel national coach, who replaced Jose Mourinho on Thursday, highlighted three decisions that went against his team.
"Too many strange things happened today," he said. "Maybe it is coincidence, or maybe I am naive, but the referee affected the result."
He was unhappy with the 32nd-minute dismissal of Mikel Jon Obi for what referee Mike Dean saw as a two-footed foul on Patrice Evra, with the fact that United scored their opener in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when only two minutes had been indicated by the fourth official, and then with the late penalty awarded as Louis Saha tumbled over Paulo Ferreira.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested both the red card and the penalty had been "harsh," but pointed out that his side should have had a first-half penalty when Joe Cole fouled Evra.
He also claimed that Cole should have been sent off for a late foul on Cristiano Ronaldo midway through the second half.
"That's a clear case," he said. "That's the kind of tackle that ends careers."
Grant insisted that despite the defeat he was pleased with the attitude of his side.
"I'm proud of their behaviour and the way they trained," he said, although he admitted he was unsure whether the dressing room was united behind him.
A further complication arose when the League Managers' Association said it would give him only 90 days' grace to acquire the UEFA pro- licence required to coach in the Premier League.
Grant has several Israeli qualifications, but as yet they are not recognized by UEFA, and given the pro-licence requires 240 hours study, it is unlikely he could get it in time.
He insisted it is just "a matter of process" to have the Israeli badge ratified.
Grant was also keen to make clear that he, rather than club owner Roman Abramovich, is picking the team.
"If I pick (Andriy) Shevchenko, you say it is because I am told to," he said. "If I leave him out, it is because I want to assert my authority.
"It is the same with any player: if they play good, they play; if not, they don't."
After watching his side seal a comfortable victory through Saha's late penalty, Ferguson hailed the performance of Carlos Tevez, who glanced in Ryan Giggs's cross to open his account for United.
"He's young and he will get better," he said. "He is got a cocky confidence about him. He's tough as nails and as brave as a lion.
"I'm pleased he's off the mark. It can only help him."