Three Things Ralf Rangnick Got Wrong In 1-1 Draw With Atletico Madrid

• Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick made a tactical blunder in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg.

• Although, the substitutions paid off after he put out a dubious starting line-up at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Spain.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the tactical blunder started when Victor Lindelof was named in the starting line-up alongside Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane.

The interim boss Ralf Rangnick surprisingly deployed United’s number two at right-back instead of Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

However, Lindelof was reluctant to go beyond the halfway line and didn’t look comfortable playing in the makeshift position.

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United’s midfield three of Fred, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba couldn’t live with the intensity and frantic tempo Diego Simeone’s side set.

Scot’s absence was glaring in the midfield after Rangnick confirmed that McTominay was ruled out due to illness.

As Atletico muzzled Bruno Fernandes, mollified Cristiano Ronaldo and neutered Paul Pogba.

The reigning La Liga champions swarmed all over the Reds and there was a gaping hole in the heart of Manchester United midfield.

They hit the crossbar twice in either half and for 80 minutes had denied United an attempt on target.

The Red Devils struggled to put together a string of passes with any real purpose, it was all very safe, side to side or in most cases backwards.

Rangnick’s side looked overwhelmed by the occasion despite possessing the likes of Varane, Pogba, Fernandes and Ronaldo in the starting line-up.

Then Elanga embarked on a run into the channel and the space opened up for Fernandes, wasteful up until then. He found his target, as did Elanga.

The euphoric United supporters chanted Elanga’s song non-stop beyond the full-time whistle and during their lock-in. What a happier time that will have been. For 80 minutes, all they had was the satisfaction of sunshine and sightseeing.

Three years on from fielding a makeshift right-back in a Champions League qualifier in Spain, United came full circle and unfortunately for Victor Lindelof, he was the square peg rammed into a round hole again. At least this time United avoided a thrashing.

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