The factor about going a objective up three-quarters of the way in which via a Champions League last-16 tie is that it’s thirsty work. After Renan Lodi’s far-post header had handed Atletico Madrid a slender benefit at Outdated Trafford and their celebrations in entrance of the Stretford Finish had settled, lots of these in aqua blue down by the gamers’ tunnel determined it was time for a drink.
Diego Simeone’s gamers had the time, in equity. The objective was not solely topic to a VAR test for a attainable foul on Anthony Elanga within the build-up, however their Manchester United counterparts had been remonstrating with the Slovenian referee, Slavo Vincic, their protests and arguments solely passing into the ether, the seconds to search out an equaliser being eaten away. Atletico started their sluggish stroll again to the centre circle, realizing the clock was already ticking and ticking down of their favour.
United, in any case, had been up towards consultants in time-wasting, skilled procrastinators, senseis of sh*thousery. To provide a Simeone aspect a result in shield as soon as, as United had on the Metropolitano in Madrid three weeks in the past, might be thought of unlucky. To take action twice is apparent careless on the highest stage. And as soon as Atletico had been forward, everybody inside Outdated Trafford knew what was prone to come subsequent.
It took Jan Oblak 13 seconds to take the primary objective kick of the second half, from planting the ball down on the sting of the six-yard field to delivering it up the pitch. Not lengthy after, the fourth official Rade Obrenovic was pressured to depart his station by the 2 technical areas, jog up the touchline and reprimand one in every of Atletico’s substitutes for kicking the ball away on a United throw-in.
It didn’t finish there.
The primary of Simeone’s substitutions was made within the eightieth minute. Koke, Atletico’s captain, was the one changed however solely after making the 90-yard spherical journey from the midway line to the touchline through the penalty space, all at hand his armband over to Oblak. Predictably, it was all at a snail’s tempo. Simeone would make two additional substitutions. Each got here in stoppage time.
And in these dying moments, when David de Gea got here up for a late nook and Oblak plucked it out of the air, he didn’t present any of the identical ambition as his reverse quantity.
The Atletico goalkeeper made no naive try and launch a counter, and as a substitute clutched the ball to his chest, realizing that possession of it meant a spot within the quarter-finals. The ultimate whistle adopted shortly afterwards.
That was the plain stuff, although. The issues which can be simple to identify. What makes Simeone’s Atletico such a formidable opponent after they have one thing to carry is their type of play. They stifle and strangle video games to the purpose of suffocation even whenever you imagine issues are going your means, or no less than may begin to.
That was very a lot the case for an extended spell of United possession across the hour mark, commendable in its composure and persistence, however not in in the slightest degree incisive. This was not as predictable and uninspired as a few of the play when behind in Madrid nevertheless it was not an ideal deal higher both. United would finish the night with almost 60 per cent of the ball however nothing extra substantial to point out for it, simply as Simeone had at all times supposed.
At occasions, you possibly can inform United had been annoyed. There was the second that Nemanja Matic threw the ball towards the pinnacle of Joao Felix, who was busy writhing round on the ground. It introduced a cheer throughout Outdated Trafford and lightened the more and more anxious temper however Atletico feed on these moments. They’re more than pleased for them to occur. One other few seconds had been wasted whereas Matic was warned by the referee.
Referee Vincic was the topic of United gamers’ ire, on this case Ronaldo’s
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If this seems like a criticism of the Atletico strategy, it isn’t.
Most of these ways have a grimy fame when, actually, that’s only a matter of perspective. The opposite title for them is ‘recreation administration’. A extra widespread one can be ‘management’. That was one in every of Rangnick’s priorities upon his appointment as interim supervisor. Dictating and controlling video games was the one high quality he confused United needed to study greater than every other.
He might really feel they confirmed it on this second leg, given the possession and the stability of play. There have been spells, actually earlier than Lodi’s objective, the place United had been the higher aspect.
However as issues turned extra frantic, because the air grew a little bit thinner, one staff appeared like that they had solely reached the final eight of this competitors twice within the final 9 seasons and the opposite appeared just like the seasoned veterans that they’re at this stage, sure of what to do to win.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
