Manchester United’s fifth season of trophy drought ends in costly mediocrity
United lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, ending their last chance at a title.
Renan Lodi scored his first goal in competition in a tight game. He met Antoine Griezmann’s cross in the 25th minute and headed the ball in front of Griezmann.
Lodi, a left wing-back at 23 years old, said that he wasn’t playing as much a few months back. However, everything has changed and he is very happy about it. It’s a difficult role. It’s a difficult job, but I’m learning.
David de Gea, the team’s hero, was often beaten. Because he was the last player to play in the team’s trophy-filled Alex Ferguson era of 2013, the goalkeeper felt the most pain.
De Gea stated, “Ofcourse it’s not enough.” It’s difficult for the club, the fans and us. We are right now. This is a difficult situation but we must continue fighting.”
Before Ferguson retired, Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford. The malaise began. After winning trophies at Real Madrid, Juventus and Juventus, the 37-year old star was back to make a difference this season.
Ronaldo was not dazzling as he was with Saturday’s hat-trick against Tottenham. He didn’t even manage one shot against the Spanish champions.
United had to rely on Raphael Varane, who tried to equalize in half-time, but Jan Oblak stopped his header. Three weeks after Madrid’s 1-1 draw, United couldn’t find a way past Jan Oblak the goalkeeper.
Koke, Atletico captain, said Oblak was “for me the best goalkeeper of the world.” He has shown it again tonight.
Atletico was the first to score a win, scoring with one of three shots on target.
Rodrigo De Paul said that “we suffered when it was necessary” and “hit when we had the opportunity here at a fantastic stadium, against a formidable team.”
Atletico’s two-time Champions League runner up Diego Simeone leads them back to the quarterfinals, as in 2020. Atletico is looking to Europe as a platform to improve its game after securing fourth place domestically last season.
Griezmann stated, “We wanted to prove tonight that we are a tough side to play against.” “We wanted to play at this level consistently, and move forward.”
United is backward with just two appearances in quarterfinals of the Champions League in a decade in 2014 and 2019.
United has not been without a trophy since the 1970s, with 2017’s Europa League second-tier title the last honour for English football’s most celebrated club.
Since Ferguson’s retirement as manager nine-years ago, there has been little to show for his transfer spending of more than $1 million.
United is so unstable that Ralf Rangnick, an interim coach, has overseen United’s exits of the FA Cup and Champions League in 2022.
The German took Schalke to semifinals of the Champions League in 2011 and said that the second half was “difficult”. “I don’t believe the game lasted more than three minutes. It was constantly interrupted and there was always someone lying on the ground.
“There were also some interesting refereeing decisions. They weren’t decisive but he was too lazy to do those silly things. In the end, however, he got four extra minutes which was enough time for me.
The priority now is to regain the fourth place in the Premier League, so that United can return to the Champions League next year for the person in charge.
Erik ten Hag, whose Ajax team lost Tuesday’s second leg to United, could be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s full-time replacement. Benfica won Amsterdam 1-0 thanks to Darwin Nunez’s goal. This gave them a 3-2 aggregate win.
