Manchester United went out of the Champions League on Tuesday evening, as Diego Simeone’s side did their thing and protected a 1-0 lead at Old Trafford with all the dark arts of football.
It was to be expected, and is what Atletico do, something Ralf Rangnick spoke about following the match.
Some Manchester United supporters were left unhappy with the referee’s performance, believing that at times it was simply a strange approach to officiating a game, that the referee didn’t always seem to be in control, and that he let Atletico get away with multiple fouls, including running up to the decisive goal.
Rangnick probably knew all this was coming, which is why it’s perhaps strange his Manchester United side didn’t get on the referee from the first minute, with there being a lack of collective pressure throughout the game.
Over with the Atletico Madrid perspective, Hector Herrera, who performed a good role in midfield, has suggested the home side were too tough, and showed his ‘war wounds’.
Deportes Cuatro quote him as saying: “There are kicks and plays in which it is normal for you to receive a blow, but in the last kick it is not normal. It was a clear foul and some card.”
