2 years ago
Man United has been drawn against Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in the Champions League knockout stages.
Manchester United was initially drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League knockout stages on Monday. However, following a UEFA error, it will be Atletico Madrid who stands in the way of the Red Devils' glory. They'll be up against one of the best, and most confrontational, managers in the sport in Diego Simeone.
Manchester United was enraged when they were initially drawn against PSG, with a ball mix-up resulting in a tense tie.
However, after UEFA decided to re-run the tournament, they will now face Atletico Madrid for a place in the Champions
League's last eight.
It's possible that this is a tougher draw for United than their first.
The League giants may not have the same pedigree as their European counterparts, but as Spain's champions, they must not be overlooked.
From stalwarts like Jan Oblak and Koke to strikers like Joao Felix and Luis Suarez, Atletico has a strong lineup.
They also have in Simeone one of the top managers in the world of football. A man who is more than a manager, who has turned them into a true European superpower despite the odds.
After joining the club in 2003 from Serie A side Lazio, the Argentine spent two years as a player.
He was promoted to manager in December 2011 and, a decade later, his dedication behind the scenes remains evident.
Simeone has won La Liga twice, the first time in 2014, when Barcelona was defeated on the final day of the season on their own backyard.
He's also led them to Europa League triumphs on two times, as well as two Champions League finals.
Atletico would have two of the most prestigious titles in international football if it hadn't been for Real Madrid.
Simeone has been admired by United for a long time, with interest stretching back to 2014.
The Daily Mail stated at the time that the Red Devils were seriously contemplating signing the Argentine to replace David Moyes, who was having a difficult time at the moment.
Moyes took over an aging roster from Sir Alex Ferguson, but it was no justification for United's slide from first to seventh place, which led to his dismissal.
Simeone was reportedly said to be taking English lessons in order to prepare for the job, given United's strong interest.
Despite this, the Red Devils have lost interest after seven years.
They aren't doing so because they think Simeone is a lousy manager. Instead, it's because they believe he's emotionally and physically linked to Atletico.
Ralf Rangnick is presently in command at Old Trafford, although the 63-year-old is only expected to be in control until the summer after winning two of his first three matches.
After that, United intends to find a permanent successor to Ole Gunnar.
And two names are at the top of the list for the job at Theatre of Dreams.
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of PSG, is one of them, with the Argentine having long been respected by the United hierarchy.
Another is Erik ten Hag, who has done miracles for Ajax in recent years.
Meanwhile, Paul Ince, a former United player, believes his old team has a chance to win the Champions League this season.
“They can win the Champions League, people will think I’m mad, but they can,” he said.
“United can defeat anybody on their day. Anyone, regardless of who they are.
"If you're on your game and in form, and you have the world-class players they have, there's no reason they can't get to a Champions League final or win it in knockout football."
Total Comments: 0