Manchester United have not been in the best form lately ahead of next week’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.
The one consolation is Atletico Madrid are faring even worse. After losing 4-2 to Barcelona earlier this month, they suffered a far worse humiliation last night.
Atletico were whistled by their home supporters as they lost 1-0 at home to 20th placed Levante, who had just 11 points all season.
Manager Diego Simeone vowed to try and help his side improve as they failed to go above Barcelona, who have a game in hand, and remain rooted in fifth place.
Simeone told AS: “We played a bad game, we lost a nice opportunity to put ourselves in a good situation in the League and we will have to make a double effort to remedy it.
“The reality is what it is, many will think that it is impossible to reach the Champions League, I say no, but you have to prove it with facts, words alone are boring.”
Atletico have had a few poor results this campaign, losing to Facundo Pellistri’s Alaves side earlier in the season.
But last night’s Levante loss was the worst of all, and terribly timed with the United match next week at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
In between they will face Osasuna away on Saturday, who are ninth, just seven points behind Atletico in the table.
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak spoke after the game and asked supporters to try and get behind the team if they were to improve.
Jan Oblak told AS: “I haven’t heard the whistles because I’m sure the whole stadium isn’t happy. I just ask that people trust us. We’re all going to get out of this together because if everyone is going their own way, no let out.”
Scathing reaction in Spain
The editorial in Spanish newspaper AS was highly critical of Atletico Madrid’s performance, labelling them ‘so desperately poor’.
The team’s fearful attitude was questioned, with it claimed, “Atleti came out already broken, with that fear, of an error, of fitting in, of their own defense, from the first minute.”
Atletico were criticised for a ‘lack of ideas’, ‘lack of reaction’, and a ‘lack of football’.
The team only recorded one shot on target against Levante, a shameful performance against the league’s lowest ranked side.
For all Manchester United’s problems, the Red Devils should be confident of winning over two legs against Atletico in the last 16. There is no better time to play them.
And for some perspective, it is best not to over react if we do win. This is the worst Atletico Madrid side for almost a decade, and that context should be noted so United don’t get too carried away by defeating them and suddenly start over rating our own side.
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