"Cristiano is a big influence for me, when we are with the national team, he always tries to give me and all of the young guys advice."
Cristiano Ronaldo’s work with young players such as Joao Felix, worked to his detriment on Wednesday night in Madrid, you could say. There were shades of Felix’s opposite number in his own game, heading forcefully off the post and past David de Gea to give Atletico Madrid a seventh minute lead.
Really, what Ralf Rangnick described as a night posed to be "special" quickly unfurled. A story of two domestic underperformers, who had only previously met once over 30 years prior, commenced with an extreme provocation of United nerves, with a packed Wanda Metropolitano creating a spectacular atmosphere.
A very early chance fell to Atletico centre back Jose Maria Gimenez, with Victor Lindelof alert to make a crucial block from his right back post, where he was strangely favoured to both Diogo Dalot Aaron Wan-Bissaka in a back four as Raphael Varane returned centrally.
Scott McTominay's absence through illness, plus Nemanja Matic's lack of match fitness, did mean Fred had to operate in the deeper midfield role to supplement Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. The imbalance caused by McTominay missing out offered possible justification for Rangnick's selection decision, suggesting that he could do with Lindelof in "aerial duels, with set pieces and free kicks - for us and against."
The United defence found themselves under a mass of pressure from very early in proceedings, unsettled and hemmed into their own half. Harry Maguire unnecessarily headed the ball out for an early corner under no duress, whilst De Gea miskicked a clearance to concede a throw-in inside his side's defensive third. There was a sense of agitation, not too dissimilar to that present at times at Elland Road.
It was from such self-inflicted invitation of pressure that Felix gave Atletico their go-ahead goal with the Ronaldo-esque header, with Renan Lodi evading Fred and afforded space to deliver from deep to greet his teammate. Felix's run evaded the marking of both Luke Shaw and Maguire, with the latter not tight enough to the forward to deny the crucial dart into the box that met Lodi's pinpoint cross.
Conceding an early goal was worst case scenario for United no matter Atletico's regressed defensive record over the course of the season, with Diego Simeone one of the most highly regarded defensive coaches regardless. The visitors were slack in and out of possession from the outset, with more of the ball intentionally gifted to United by their opposition, amplifying the substandard use of possession.
With Atletico comfortable in their defensive structure, the consequences of Lindelof starting at right back started to show in possession. There was also an escalating issue down his side marring United on a number of fronts. Given Lindelof's inexperience in the position, he was performing valiantly, however there were perceptible indications of his lack of knowledge of the role - even in defensive terms.
United were offering scarce amounts on a progressive, attacking front - wasteful and a non-entity in creation. Ronaldo's lack of service rendered his inclusion meaningless, with United second best and making light work for Atletico's structured back line. Disorganisation that has prevailed on a frequent basis throughout the season was ubiquitous, with the midfield and wide players attempting to interchange but with little coordination.
Overall, United were switched off and lacking concentration, in essence half asleep. The defence looked liable to being caught out, leaving far too much space for Atletico to expose on the occasions that they had possession. The whole air of sloppiness was embodied by certain lapses on the ball, with too long often taken and poor decisions riddling the performance; too regularly, the ball was launched forward with minimal direction without much of a clue.
The whole setup was drastically disconnected, with real difficulty to gain control even amidst domination of possession. The wide players were mostly restricted by Simeone's disciplined defensive system, with a deficient use of space when those on the flanks found themselves free. Ronaldo was starting to drop deeper and deeper, head down, cutting a frustrated figure as Atletico didn't afford him an ounce of space.
Part of United's inability to assert their authority could have been attributed to the absence of McTominay's presence. A concern before things got underway, United were inferior on a physical front without the Scot's stature in the deep midfield role. Pogba struggled to get into any groove without McTominay's supplementation, forced to operate deeper alongside Fred to screen the defence and hold a staunch guard. Although he might not be the favoured long term option for many, McTominay has proven himself crucial to the balance of the current midfield.
Although they had a 67% share of first half possession, United only held 4% of such total in the final third, failing to take a single touch inside the opposing penalty area. Atletico's well-drilled defensive structure was an encapsulation of Simeone's values. United were restricted to no shots on target from their diminutive total of 10 attempts, amassing only 0.04 expected goals.
The showing in the first half, assessed as negatively unbelievable by Rangnick, was against an Atletico side devoid of some of their most important players: Koke and Yannick Carrasco were unavailable, with Thomas Lemar, Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez all starting amongst the substitutes.
United lost the ball at a rate of one time per minute in the first half. Instantaneously after the juncture, Fernandes grievously overhit a cross out for a goal kick under no pressure whatsoever. Soon after, returning after two matches on the bench, Marcus Rashford played a pass straight to an opposing defender, somehow failing to find Shaw's overlap into a gaping hole. It was far from an isolated case of miscuing for Rashford.
To top things off, Rashford preceded this further number of giveaways with a wildly speculative effort from around 30-40 yards from goal - it was rushed and further evidence of inept and frazzled thought processes.
The patterns continuing to ensue within the game were carbon copies of those so pervasive throughout the opening period, with Atletico seeming the more willing and succeeding in most contests, getting the better of United through their calculated out of possession approach.
Part of the predicament was consequential of Rangnick's selection; he opted for an overhaul as the second half progressed - almost acknowledgement of his initial misjudgements. Again, it was a stimulus for improvement. Wan-Bissaka offered a better match to Lodi's threat after Lindelof's eventual withdrawal, whilst Alex Telles proved willing to operate in more advanced positions having replaced Shaw. Matic's introduction added more midfield fortitude alongside Fred, with Pogba having lacked any effective involvement.
Simeone introduced Lemar and Griezmann, though it was Rangnick's fourth alteration that paid dividends. Anthony Elanga stepped up once more.
When United were in need of reinvigoration, Rangnick read the room - not for the first time. The German's side engineered a well-synced move of pristine combinations, with Fred, Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho manoeuvring out of a tight area. It was the former at the heart of unleashing the break, attentive to set Fernandes on his way to catch Atletico out. Fernandes weighted his well ball enough to evade Reinildo Mandava and send Elanga on his way, beating a wrongly-committed Jan Oblak.
Fernandes, despite misplacing the most passes on the pitch, proved his value by providing his seventh Champions League assist of the season, two off the all-time single season record tally. Simultaneously, he sealed status as the first player at an English club to assist in six consecutive matches in the competition.
Elanga's two goals off the bench in the past two games stakes a clear claim for a starting place over Rashford in his current patch of form. He offers things that United are often bereft of: sharpness and constant movement - shown for runs in behind for his two recent goals. His endeavour is an invaluable asset whenever he’s on the pitch. He is living his dream.
"I wish a few other players would take him as a example or role model, not because he’s doing everything right but because he’s just enjoying himself on the pitch," Rangnick said. "I wish we would enjoy ourselves on the pitch."
Griezmann almost gave Atletico a last gasp winner as he struck the bar - the hosts' second strike of the upright. With Atletico six shots superior despite their possessional deprivation, it was hard to justify that United's miscalculations warranted anything other than defeat.
An escape and committing of a robbery are both associated with crime; ultimately, it was somewhat an offence that United came out of Madrid with any sort of result given the quality of performance on Wednesday night. No matter, the outcome will be grasped with open arms heading to Old Trafford for the second leg. It’s all still to play for.
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