Alex Telles is relishing his battle with Luke Shaw for the starting berth at left-back in the Manchester United side and insists the pair have "great respect" for each other.
Telles is set to start a fourth successive game when Atletico Madrid visit Old Trafford in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday, with Shaw still recovering from a recent bout of Covid.
There has been little to separate the duo this season and Telles believes his own game has improved after a difficult first campaign at United.
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The Brazilian has made 14 starts this term, with Shaw beginning 25 times, but Telles has started nine of the 19 games that Ralf Rangnick has been in charge for. "I have great respect for Luke, not just for him but all the players in the squad, I know the history Luke has at Manchester United," Telles said.
"I’ve come here to help. The first year wasn’t that easy for me but this year I feel a lot better. I'm working very hard and I’m a player who comes to help, the manager makes the decision and he’ll pick the player who is playing best. I have huge respect for Luke and we get on really well."
Telles set-up Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick clinching goal against Tottenham on Saturday, swinging in the corner that was headed home by the Portuguese to seal United's thrilling 3-2 win. That was a timely return to form for Ronaldo and Telles has hailed the 37-year-old's influence not just on the pitch but off it.
"It’s important he plays at his top level, we know his history in football, the impact he has in the changing room and on our football, when he’s on fire it’s amazing for us. We want to help him and he always wants to help us," he said.
Ronaldo has history against Atletico Madrid, scoring 25 goals against them, mostly during his record-breaking spell at bitter rivals Real Madrid.
His goals could be crucial to United progressing tomorrow night after a 1-1 draw in the Wanda Metropolitano three weeks ago. United are bidding to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for just the third time in the last nine seasons and they've managed it just once since 2013/14.
David Moyes' side were beaten at that stage by Bayern Munich and three years ago Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United were dumped out in the final eight by Barcelona.
Telles admits United's European record hasn't been good enough in recent seasons but he believes they can change that with victory tomorrow.
"United always need to think about winning every competition that they enter. We’re not very happy with the last few years but we’ve worked really hard to better that," he said.
"This year we have an opportunity to change things, we need to train well, win games and tomorrow we have a chance to change that.
"The game tomorrow is very important for this run that we have in the Champions League. When we play in this competition we've always dreamed of doing as far as we can, we want to win it but tomorrow we have a chance to get to the final eight, we have to play well tomorrow to win and we’re ready for it.
"It’s a competition I love. It's a competition where the finer details are very important, players in the competition have great experience. It’s a really tough game, I’m really happy once again to be able to play in this game."
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