Manchester United lost 2-0 at the Metropolitano and the result was not even the worst of their night. Lisandro Martínez went on camera afterwards and said the squad was not good enough for the Champions League.
Inside a minute
Atlético scored with their first attack. Álex Baena crossed and Pablo Barrios hit it first time; the shot took a touch off Ayden Heaven on its way in. Reports put it between 47 and 53 seconds.
Barrios held up six fingers for Koke, whose mother died hours before kick-off. The Atlético players showed his shirt.
"Está claro que la pérdida de un familiar de un futbolista como Koke duele mucho," Diego Simeone said. "Los chicos hicieron un gran partido y tuvieron la sensibilidad de mostrar la camiseta de Koke." The boys played a great game and had the sensitivity to show Koke's shirt.
Close for 70 minutes
United stayed in it. Bruno Fernandes hit the crossbar, Atlético hit the woodwork twice, and Johnny Cardoso had a goal ruled out for handball. "Es muy difícil de ver," Simeone said of that decision. It is very hard to see.
The red card
On 74 minutes Leny Yoro made contact with Jonathan David just inside the United half. Referee Glenn Nyberg let play go on. VAR sent him to the monitor and he showed Yoro a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Not everyone agreed. "It would be extremely soft but he's put his arm across," former referee Mark Clattenburg said. "I just think he's gone down very, very easily. UEFA said at the start of the season that it has to be a clear and obvious error. I don't believe this is."
Five minutes later Atlético broke and Ademola Lookman scored from close range. "Hoy se reencontró con el gol," Simeone said: today he found the goal again.
Lisandro Martínez
Martínez did not hold back. "Really poor. Really poor," Martínez told Amazon Prime. "We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete. This is not a Champions League-quality squad."
He named the technical director. "I expect more from our technical director," he said, referring to Jason Wilcox. "As players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night. You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas?"
Michael Carrick declined to engage. "I haven't seen it. After a game like this you come here to try and get something from the game and you are disappointed and can be emotional. I have not seen it so I don't think it is the right time to comment."
Where United are
United have now gone five games without a win in all competitions. Saturday's 1-1 with Tottenham left them with six points from six league games, their worst start in 40 years, and Old Trafford booed them off. Both sides have three points from two games in the league phase.
United go to Leeds on Sunday.
