MY ACCOUNT
Ralf Rangnick was left frustrated with his side’s first-half display against Atletico Madrid, as he called on Manchester United’s players to follow the example set by Anthony Elanga.
The teenager scored five minutes after coming on from the bench at Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday, and netted with United’s first shot on target to snatch a 1-1 draw against last season’s LaLiga champions.
United had lived a charmed life in the first half, though Atleti only managed one attempt on target throughout the match – Joao Felix’s seventh-minute opener. Marcos Llorente hit the bar shortly before the interval when it seemed easier to score at the back post.
Elanga’s equaliser in the 80th minute marked United’s 500th goal in the European Cup/Champions League and, at 19 years and 302 days, he became the club’s youngest goalscorer in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
It came with his first touch of the ball – Elanga capitalising on Reinildo’s mistake to latch onto Bruno Fernandes’ pass and slot a finish beyond the poorly positioned Jan Oblak, who had to save from Jesse Lingard late on.
“He’s playing as if a dream has come true, it’s joy and fun to watch him play. I wish a few other players would take him as an example, almost a role model,” Rangnick told BT Sport when asked about Elanga.
“Not because he’s doing everything right, but he’s enjoying himself on the pitch, and we know that’s what it’s all about. Football is a ball game, you have to enjoy yourself on the pitch. This is what I envision in the future and when we play [Atleti] again in a couple of weeks.”
Although, Elanga’s display was one of the only bright spots for a disappointed Rangnick, who can nevertheless prepare for the second leg with the tie all square.
He said: “After the performance in the first half, it could only get better.
“I still cannot believe what we did. We played without conviction, all the necessary aggression without the ball. In the second half, we had more possession in areas that mattered; had we played another 10 minutes, we might have won the game.
“Against the ball and with the ball, we were far too apprehensive. We didn’t take any risks with the ball; just played the ball in our own half, without any deep runs, verticality.
“It’s difficult against a team like Atletico. [It was] a difficult goal to prevent I must say, but we have to be more aggressive, play with more conviction and do what we did in the last couple of weeks.
“The way that we scored the goal was a deep run, a fantastic pass, [we] won the ball in the centre of the pitch; this is how we have to play.”
Fernandes’ assist means the Portugal international became the first player in Champions League history to set up at least one goal in six successive appearances while playing for an English club, breaking the record held by United great David Beckham in 1998.
Elanga, who netted against Leeds United on Sunday, took the pass in his stride and dispatched a cool finish across Oblak following Reinildo’s slip.
“[I] think it was my first touch as well,” a beaming Elanga remarked in his BT Sport interview.
“I have dreamt of moments like this, scoring in the Champions League against top European teams like Atletico Madrid, [it is] a dream come true. It is only [the] first half; we have to be ready for the second half at Old Trafford.
“I told you how calm and cool I am and whenever I am given an opportunity, I want to repay the manager and give 150 per cent every time I step onto the pitch.
“I just do what I can do, I want to be the best player on the pitch and I appreciate the boss.”
