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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
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Daniel Murphy

Fans send message to Harry Maguire and more moments missed as Manchester United lose to Atletico

It's official now. Even Manchester United's faintest hopes of lifting a trophy this season are over after they were eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid.

United were optimistic going into the tie after Anthony Elanga's heroic equaliser in the Spanish capital in the opening leg and they took the ascendancy early on at Old Trafford, looking fluid and exciting in attack, with Fred and Jadon Sancho looking particularly impressive. However, Atleti showed their threat as Joao Felix had a goal disallowed after a cutting move through United's defence.

Ralf Rangnick's side obviously didn't take the warning as the Spanish champions did a similar move down the right a few minutes later and there was no disallowing Renan Lodi's header. Even if there was a suggestion of a foul in the build-up.

ALSO READ: Manchester United player ratings as Harry Maguire poor vs Atletico Madrid

It was a classic Atleti performance in the second-half as they did all they could to disrupt the flow of the game, waste time and frustrate United. It worked a treat as their opponents fell for all the obvious tricks and only managed one shot on target in the whole half as they went out of the competition with a whimper.

Here are the moments you may have missed from the match:

1 - Warm welcome for Suarez

In what will come as a surprise to no one, Luis Suarez wasn't a popular figure at Old Trafford. The former Liverpool striker received a hostile welcome from his old foes, as supporters went through their songbook of chants aimed at the Suarez, none of which can be repeated here. The Uruguayan didn't get onto the field in either leg to get his own back.

2 - Early Ronaldo skill

It seems like an aeon ago now but at the start of the match United really looked up for it as they were cheered on by a raucous crowd. In the opening seconds, Cristiano Ronaldo received a high ball near the touchline and proceeded to juggle it under a challenge in a brilliant piece of skill. It matters little now but it was a moment that the crowd certainly enjoyed at the time.

3- No VAR help forthcoming

In the first half as United pressed and looked as though they might actually pull off a result, there was a strong penalty claim when Reinaldo went through the back of Bruno Fernandes and looked to have fouled him. United asked the question and the referee appeared to signal that he would discuss it with VAR, but the video officials didn't feel that a check was necessary and it wasn't given.

4 - Atletico subs kick the ball away

Everyone expected some underhanded tactics from Atletico, the absolute kings of holding onto narrow leads in knockout games, but it was quite something when even the substitutes got involved. The second-half still had plenty of time to go, too, when the ball rolled out to where the Atletico substitutes were warming up on the touchline.

As Sancho came over to take the throw-in, the ball was then kicked away from him and the fourth official had to come out to reprimand them for getting involved.

5 - Bad end to a bad night for Maguire

It was yet another horrible night for Maguire, who continues to struggle to find any sort of consistency or positives in his performances. The centre-back was caught ahead of his defensive line for the disallowed goal and his positioning was exactly the same for the strike that did count.

With Diogo Dalot having to tuck inside to mark the player Maguire should have been covering, Lodi was left unopposed to head home. In the final minutes, Rangnick brought off Maguire, replacing him with Juan Mata, and as his number went up sarcastic cheers erupted from the crowd. Not a good look at all for the captain of the club.

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6 - Fletcher booked

As United's frustrations began to get the better of them with the clock ticking down, it wasn't only the players who lost their cool. Darren Fletcher was shown a yellow card for repeated remonstrations with the fourth official which may well go down as the first time a technical director has ever been booked.

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