Six Manchester United managers have sat in the Old Trafford dug-out since the Red Devils won a home Champions League knockout match. United were ground down and frustrated by a typical dogged and resolute Atletico Madrid performance that may as well be trademarked by Diego Simeone.
In terms of personnel, Ralf Rangnick’s side should have had more than enough to overcome the reigning La Liga champions. But Simeone, a manager who has dragged Atletico to two Champions League finals, two Europa League titles and currently commands a salary higher than any manager on the planet, has proven that a collective identity and strategy is often more than enough to see of any team.
His undying, determined, and often nasty approach is ingrained into every Atletico player before they cross the white lines onto the Wanda Metropolitano pitch. New managers, new signings, new captains, new rebuilds, and another new project has been uttered in the wake of their exit, but as Jose Mourinho said, these monumental changes of direction have already been done before.
