Elanga delivers
If you're good enough, you're old enough.
Elanga, aged 19, delivered from off the bench for Manchester United against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Ralf Rangnick was impressed with the youngster from his first training session at the club and he's rewarded him with opportunities.
Elanga has crucially taken them. To score against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League as a teenager, to bring your side back into the game in a knockout round, is almost as good it gets. His finish to beat Jan Oblak to score for United was outstanding.
The 1992 smash hit 'Rhythm is a Dancer' echoed around the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium after the goal.
United fans were drunk in hope again, watching one of their own score on Europe's biggest stage.
United need McTominay
Scott McTominay was ruled out of Wednesday's game against Atletico through illness but his stock at United still went up as he watched on from his hotel room. United were embarrassingly passive throughout the first half at the Wanda Metropolitano and there was no link between defence and midfield, which Atletico took advantage of.
Although United had 67% possession at the interval, they had looked grossly inferior across the first 45 minutes and they never threatened Atletico. It was reminiscent of the worst, timid displays during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's ill-fated reign.
United were bullied by Atletico's physicality and they missed McTominay's aggressiveness in the centre of the pitch. Their midfield was unbalanced without him. Fred can't play in the No.6 role and neither can Paul Pogba or Bruno Fernandes.
Diego Simeone ironically lauded the 'balance' McTominay brings to United pre-match - that was unintentional foreshadowing.
Mentality problems return
Elland Road was toxic on Sunday afternoon and United emerged with the three points in difficult circumstances.
This side's mental resilience has been questioned this season, but after throwing away a two-goal lead against Leeds, United impressively fought back to win. It felt like a turning point, it felt like progress, but Wednesday night showed it wasn't.
United's players took in the 70,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano before the game and they would have been well aware of the atmosphere they were about to play in. Their preparation didn't work and they looked mentally unnerved from the first whistle.
David de Gea was booed as he walked to his goal and his woeful clearance within five minutes invited the pressure that ended in Joao Felix's goal. United hopelessly continue to underperform when the spotlight shines brightest.
Sports psychologist Sascha Lense shouldn't be short of work at Carrington.
Rangnick's experiment
Victor Lindelof was outstanding against Leeds and he would have understandably felt aggrieved to have been dropped for Raphael Varane for United's visit to Atletico, however, it's fair to say Rangnick's experiment with the Swede didn't pay dividends.
Rangnick started Lindelof at right-back and, while the centre-back is versatile and has played in that position before, that decision began to look foolish as the game developed. United were left exposed without a traditional right-back.
Fred, Pogba and Fernandes all unsurprisingly wanted to venture forward, which meant Lindelof came into midfield to cover. That left United's centre-backs in a vulnerable position, something which Atletico sought to capitalise on with their press.
Lindelof was substituted off for Wan-Bissaka on the 65th minute and that was Rangnick accepting defeat for his experiment.
Such significant changes are unadvisable for Champions League knockout fixtures.
De Gea's distribution
Harry Maguire was culpable for losing Joao Felix for Atletico's goal but De Gea should also be charged for the crime.
De Gea has enjoyed a sensational season. He has been United's most consistent performer, making brilliant and unlikely saves at pivotal moments, but his distribution continues to leave a lot to be desired and it's an area in which he is weakest.
His clearance invited the Atletico pressure that led to the goal. Although it feels wrong to suggest De Gea's contract should not be renewed on the back of his best season for years, excellent distribution is a non-negotiable for a modern-day goalkeeper.
United might struggle to rebuild with De Gea in between the sticks.
