Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hit back at his Chelsea counterpart Avram Grant ahead of the Champions League final.

Ferguson rubbished Grant's claim that United won the Premier League after "influencing" referee Steve Bennett during their 2-0 win against Wigan last Sunday.

The Scotsman said he was not surprised by Grant's outburst, and said it was an attempt to gain an edge before the clubs meet again in Moscow next Wednesday.

"I've been expecting it," Ferguson said.

"I don't think it's about last Saturday [sic], I think it's about next Wednesday and maybe even next season.

"I could go on and on about decisions because they're all debatable at the end of the day, we feel we didn't get a lot of decisions this season."

United had earlier complained bitterly at the late penalty awarded to Chelsea when the sides clashed at Stamford Bridge earlier this month, and Ferguson insisted there was nothing in Grant's claim that United enjoyed preferential treatment.

"Maybe when we went to Chelsea we should have been champions before it, but with the season over we can put it on the backburner and now it's about next Wednesday and I think that's why Avram's talking that way," he said.

Grant had said earlier of United's win at Wigan: "The referee? He was, as expected, good for one team.

"I think in England there are some very good referees. But there are some, a few of them, you can influence, like you saw."

Alex Chick / Eurosport