As the match was close to the end, midfielder Alonso repeatedly hesitated before taking a freekick when he was on a yellow card, giving referee Craig Thomson no option but to show him red.

Minutes later, Alonso's Spain mate Ramos spent an age taking a goal kick in an obvious 'book me' plea for the referee.

Spanish sport publication Marca claims that the duo received orders from manager Jose Mourinho, who was hardly annoyed after the referee's decisions.

"The red cards we picked up don’t matter hugely as we have already qualified ahead of the next game against Auxerre," said Mourinho.

"If Ramos and Alonso can’t play against Auxerre then there will be others, but we are not going to gift the game to the French. We want to win them all."

Alonso and Ramos want red