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Six trophyless seasons as Atletico Madrid knocks Manchester United out of Champions League

Six trophyless seasons as Atletico Madrid knocks Manchester United out of Champions League

Manchester United have been knocked out of the Champions League at the round of 16 by Atletico Madrid.

The Red Devils were beaten 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate by Atletico, with Renan Lodi’s first half header succumbing United to an early exit.

United had drawn 1-1 in Madrid in the first leg thanks to Anthony Elanga’s late strike cancelling out Joao Felix’s header.

With no away goals, they needed to be on the front foot at Old Trafford and play for the win.

And while there was plenty of intensity and possession from the hosts, they could not find a way through Diego Simeone’s stern side.

Atleti, meanwhile, needed just the one goal on the night but it wasn’t without controversy. United complained strongly about two possible fouls in the build up to the winner – one on Elanga and one on Fred in the same passage of play.

The La Liga champions countered wonderfully and with United’s backline all over the place, Antoine Griezmann picked out Lodi at the far post.

A brief VAR check was held but the goal stood and having failed to reply, United have now suffered more Champions League misery.

What’s more, it means they have now extended their trophyless period to six seasons.

The last bit of silverware for United was the Europa League win under Jose Mourinho in 2017.

Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes blame Rangnick’s  

Speaking after Man United’s European exit, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes ruthlessly pointed fingers at the appointment of Rangnick.

Scholes said “How he [Rangnick] was chosen to be manager for this club for six months… I don’t know,” he said. ​

“The very first thing this club needs to do to get anywhere near winning the league again is getting in a proper coach who works for this team.”​

As for Ferdinand, he said the club needs a revamp from the top down and made a bold Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland claim.

“If you bring in Mbappé and Haaland this summer, Man United aren’t winning the league,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter who they bring in. It [revamp] needs to be from the top down.”

Owen Hargreaves also shared his thoughts on Man United’s dire situation, saying the club needs more football people – citing the likes of Scholes and Gary Neville. ​​

Man United, who occupy fifth place in the Premier League, resume their campaign at home to Leicester City on April 2 following the international break.

 

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