ROB HARRIS, MANCHESTER
Man Utd 0, Atletico 1
Expensive mediocrity confirmed: Manchester United’s trophy drought completes a fifth season.
The last path to a title was ended at an Old Trafford now accustomed to letdowns as United was knocked out of the Champions League in a 1-0 loss to Atlético Madrid yesterday.
In a tight and tense game, Renan Lodi made the difference by scoring his first goal in the competition in his 25th appearance, meeting Antoine Griezmann’s cross with a header after being left unmarked at the far post by defender Diogo Dalot in the 41st minute.
“I wasn’t playing a few months ago, but everything has changed now and I’m very happy with that,” the 23-year-old left wing-back Lodi said. “It’s a tough role. I’m working at it, learning.”
So often the team’s savior, David de Gea was beaten. The goalkeeper feels the pain more, being the only starter still in the team from the end of the trophy-filled Alex Ferguson era in 2013.
“Of course it’s not good enough,” De Gea said. “It’s hard for the club, for us and the fans. This is where we are at the moment. It is a difficult situation, but we have to keep fighting.”
Cristiano Ronaldo departed Old Trafford before Ferguson retired and the malaise kicked in. The 37-year-old star returned this season — after collecting trophies at Real Madrid and Juventus — to be the difference-maker.
Rather than dazzling, as he did with Saturday’s hat trick against Tottenham, Ronaldo didn’t manage a single shot against the Spanish champions.
Instead, United was left relying on defender Raphaël Varane attempting to equalize in the second half, and his header was kept out by Jan Oblak. United could find no way past the goalkeeper three weeks after a 1-1 draw in Madrid that counted for nothing with away-goals no longer carrying an advantage.
“For me, Oblak is the best goalkeeper in the world,” Atlético captain Koke said. “He’s shown it once again tonight.”
Atlético showed the blueprint to grab a win away, by scoring from one of only three shots on target.
“We suffered when we had to,” said Rodrigo De Paul, whose long-range shot was blocked by De Gea in the first half, “and hit when we had the chance here at a great stadium, against a great team.”
Diego Simeone, a two-time Champions League runner-up, leads Atlético back into the quarterfinals like in 2020. Europe is the platform for Atlético to raise its game this season, with the team clinging onto fourth place domestically after winning the title last season. MDT/AP
