Atlético and Benfica advanced to the top eight in the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of winning the sixth Champions League was shattered at Old Trafford. AOP
Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnickin the experience of Champions League football is not commendable.
The German last time in the European elite race had to be applied for in the spring of 2011, when he led his troops to the semifinals as a Schalke pilot.
Even then, sir Alex Ferguson United was too strong.
11 years later, Rangnick tried artificial respiration through the current United. Everyone knew that the only chance for the team to win the trophy was at the Euro pitch.
That’s why he decided to put his only working lineup on the field: Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba left the bench when Anthony Elanga mixed Scott McTominay rose to the opening.
If Rangnick had a bit of a feel for the playoffs in the Champions League, the same couldn’t be said Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old striker had done a hat trick in his two previous Euro home games against Atlético, and the Madrid club always brought out the best possible version of the lucitan star.
Ronaldo’s 25 goals just against the Reds and Whites told in a dull way why the bench wasn’t an option for him.
In the opening season in Madrid, United was in the wind, but still managed to get a 1-1 draw. This time the Rangnick crew took the lead, which on the other hand was quite suitable for the guests.
– Atléticoa does not mind if the opponent holds the ball. In recent league games, it has dominated the match less than 50 percent, and we’re fully aware of that, Rangnick explained his tactics.
– It is extremely important that we do not let them paint the opening paint.
The plan lasted 40 minutes. After that João Félix released Antoine Griezmannin with a cunning heel. The Frenchman looked up and sent a complete concentration from which Renan Lodi pushed elegantly through the ground into the ball net.
United were already in trouble with the wingbacks of the Madrid team. The same story continued at Old Trafford, and Diogo Dalot left her husband completely free on the back pillar.
The story continues after the picture.
Renan Lodi pushed Atlético to the corner from the back. AOP
Tactical victory
The opening period went completely at Atlético Diego Simeonen according to the script. The Argentine has a clear idea of how the Eurocup match matches should be played.
Atlético let the hosts hold the ball, but the hosts were not allowed to panic Jan Oblakin guarded paint. The only time Elanga slipped into the scene, the Slovenian blocked the ball with his head.
The away game was based on a concrete defense. Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t get any shots in the opening season. At the other end of João Félix, Griezmann, Marcus Llorente and Renan Lodi ran under the feet of the United players.
The battle of the head coaches intensified in the second period. Rangnick’s answer came in 67 minutes. A triple exchange brought Pogban, Rashford and Nemanja Maticin.
The German’s strategic weakness was evident again: he did not change the grouping of the team.
Although United still dominated the ball, Atlético dominated the entire pair.
Home team attempts turned more and more into solo performances. Oblak certainly rejected the rest.
Ronaldo’s first shot went just wide, though, but the home side’s keeper showed his lightning reflexes. Before Raphaël Varanen with the header, the goalkeeper had to present his best.
It couldn’t get any closer to United. The further the match progressed, the more anxious the Home crowd became.
The story continues after the picture.
Stefan Savic and Renan Lodi celebrate the place in the top eight. AOP
Rangnick’s solutions did not reassure anyone either. The forgotten game maker Juan Mata got into the field in the last minutes, but nothing helped.
Atlético won 1-0 in Manchester and continues to be in the top eight with 2-1 overall goals. The loss means Rangnick’s career in the United rudder ends in disappointment.
The German will probably never coach again in the Champions League.
Benfica to continue
Meanwhile in Amsterdam, a local Ajax harassed Benfica for 90 minutes, but Kotkat continues to the semi-finals with a 1-0 away win. The Uruguayan striker secured Benfica a 3-2 win over the pair Darwin Núñezthat pushed Alejandro Grimaldon freed by the network.
Núñez won the main ball Jurriën Timberin and guided the ball recklessly to the line by the Ajax miller André Onanan past.