DE GEA KEPT US IN THE CUP - FERGUSON

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson hailed goalkeeper David de Gea after his superb late save against Chelsea kept the Premier League leaders in the FA Cup.

United led 2-0 after 11 minutes of Sunday's quarter-final but Chelsea hit back to level the score in the second half and the hosts were left hanging on in the dying stages.

Chelsea could have snatched a winning goal in the last minute of normal time, when Juan Mata cushioned a high ball and stepped inside Jonny Evans before blasting a shot at goal.

However, De Gea intervened, spreading himself to divert the ball wide of his right-hand post and thereby keeping United in a competition they last won in 2004.

'It was a very good save,' said Ferguson. 'I saw the replay and it was terrific at a very important time, because there was no doubt we would be out if they had scored at that time.'

United had appeared to be cruising into the semi-finals after early goals from Javier Hernandez and the recalled Wayne Rooney put them in control on a wintry afternoon at Old Trafford.

Their poise disappeared in the second half though, as goals from Eden Hazard and Ramires brought Chelsea back into the tie, and Ferguson said Tuesday's sapping Champions League loss to Real Madrid was to blame.

'I can't be critical of the side really, as the running they had to do on Tuesday against a top side in Real Madrid had a bearing on this result, there is no doubt about that,' he said.

With United now out of the Champions League, Ferguson said he was not concerned by fixture congestion ahead of the replay.

'We have plenty of time now. We have no European games,' he said. 'We have the international break and I don't know when the game will be played. But the only thing we could say is that we are still in the cup.'

United winger Nani suffered a miserable end to a forgettable week, limping off before half-time only five days after his match-changing red card against Madrid.

Ferguson, though, played down the extent of the injury. 'That was a blow to us as he was playing very well,' Ferguson said. 'He got a little hamstring [injury], but I don't think it's too serious.'