There is one department in which Manchester United has no shortage of world-class talent: Whingeing.
This will be a United season where the moaning will linger as much as the winning. It worked the other week when the VAR and referee Peter Bankes heeded their complaints about a Lewis Dunk challenge that was eventually upgraded to a red card.
The club was fined for failing to ensure their players behaved in an orderly fashion. On that score, the club has failed all season. It did not work on Tuesday night. First things first, the Atletico Madrid players wasted time whenever they could.
As Ralf Rangnick pointed out, that is what they do and have been doing for many years. They are a team in the image of their manager. It should have come as no surprise.
But the haranguing of referee Slavko Vincic betrayed United’s desperation - just as it has done all season. And perhaps, over the season, it has also betrayed a sense of entitlement.
If you keep being told you are the biggest club in the world, maybe you start behaving as though the game owes you something. Bruno Fernandes is a talent, no doubt, but his bleating to referees has become an unpleasant trademark.
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As the captain, Harry Maguire might feel a duty to communicate with the officials but, at a time when his form is under the spotlight, he does not with far too much gusto. It’s not a great look.
And, of course, Ronaldo has always been a moaner but his incredible talent has always somehow compensated for it. Of course, United are far from unique in giving refs a hard time.
But when you are looking at a fifth season without a trophy, maybe the enthusiasm that is put into complaining would be better used in other departments.
