Nani admits injury relief

Published Jan. 22, 2012 7:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kompany was red carded for the two-footed challenge on Nani during United's FA Cup third-round win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month.

The decision to send off Kompany has divided opinion with the defender and City boss Roberto Mancini both denying it was a red card offence.

However, Nani insists if he had not jumped out of the way of Kompany's challenge he could have suffered serious injury.

"I jumped," Nani is quoted as saying in the Daily Star on Sunday. "I jumped in that tackle. If I didn't jump I might not be here to play. It was a very dangerous challenge. It was two feet.

"He didn't touch me, it's true - but sometimes you see very bad tackles on the legs and it's just a yellow card. Or no card.

"That was the referee's opinion and we have to respect that."

Nani has been accused of being a diver, but the Portugal international has denied the claims and believes other players and fans are jealous of his skills

Nani added: "This is funny. I don't know. The quality I have got makes people jealous. Of course the fans who say that are not Manchester United fans.

"They're not the ones who like me. If I play against Spurs, Liverpool or Chelsea and someone gives me a tackle or pushes me I go down.

"But they will say he goes down easily. Yes, it's not a foul. Of course, they will defend these players. That's why they say I go down easily.

"But if you ask my team-mates, the people who work with me, they know me. They don't say I go down easily."