Manchester United’s interim manager, Ralf Ragnick, has admitted that his game plan blew up in his face after just seven minutes into the first leg of his side’s Champions League Round of 16 game against Atletico Madrid.
United fans were shocked by Ragnick’s deployment of Victor Lindelof at the right-back position instead of the natural players, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot, who were both fit to start.
Joao Felix’s 7th-minute header gave the hosts a deserved lead at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium as United succumbed to early pressure from Diego Simeone’s side.
United held on to keep the deficit at 1-0 with help from the crossbar in both halves until super-sub, Anthony Elanga, rescued United with an 80th-minute equaliser.
Explaining his decision to deploy Lindelof at an unnatural position, Ragnick told BT Sport: “To start with, we could do with him (Victor Lindelof) in aerial duels, set-pieces, free-kicks for and against us.
“All three centre-halves [Lindelof, Varane and Maguire] were in good shape, but after seven minutes, we were 1-0 down and the plan was in the dustbin.
“I knew this was not his best position, when we had Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the ball and Alex Telles, we had more possession and more assistance from the wings. In the end, due to the early goal, it was difficult,” he stated.
