Five years and counting. Manchester United have officially entered their most unsuccessful period since the fallow years following their first European Cup in 1968.
Atletico Madrid's authoritative victory at Old Trafford ensures United will stray towards six trophyless years in 2023. The last time that happened was in 1983 and 1974 and in the latter year season they were relegated. It is apposite the current United should suffer similar ignominy in this ramshackle season.
United resembled a team that has reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League twice in the last 11 years. Atletico were streetwise, canny and composed. United were affronted by the referee's officiousness and the theatrics that are mandatory with Diego Simeone's street fighters.
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Ralf Rangnick, usually phlegmatic, became uncharacteristically irate and the substituted Bruno Fernandes stood in anguish. Fred, also hooked, became an attack-dog, barking at the fourth official to take note of Atletico's time-wasting.
United's naivety was highlighted by a booking for Darren Fletcher, the technical director who is very much a coach. "Cheating f-----g b------s," a United fan shouted at Atletico officials as he staggered down the gangway. United fell into every trap.
Missiles were hurled at Simeone and the Slovenian referee as they approached the tunnel after the final shrill. Rangnick, Victor Lindelof and other members of United's supporting cast vented at the fourth official. That will only intensify Atletico's satisfaction.
The United squad, if not the stadium, will be demolished. This was the last European evening as United players for Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard. None of them started and Lingard was unused.
It was a night typified by Harry Maguire, the captain, headbutting Cristiano Ronaldo as they prepared for a free-kick when 1-0 down. It has been a tragicomic season at United and Maguire warrants top billing. He was sarcastically cheered off when substituted for the popular Mata. It is impossible to justify Maguire retaining the armband beyond this season.
Not until Rangnick righted the wrongs of introducing the benched Nemanja Matic and Pogba with a quarter of the game remaining did an equaliser seem believable and United's only standout chance was from a free-kick. Red smoke emanated from the Stretford End as the dying embers dawned and green and golf scarves twirled as they sang sinisterly about Joel Glazer, still in exile three years on from his last visit to Old Trafford. This is his family's legacy.
In a season where anything that can go wrong will go wrong, it did as United were undone by a tactic their recent opponents have exploited. Atletico had already had one goal chalked off for offside through right-back Marco Llorente and when they scored legitimately it was the left-back. Renan Lodi was a menace in the first leg and went from assisting to scoring.
United had just played a team three days earlier that operated with wing-backs and procured both of their goals from wide play. Diogo Dalot was dragged infield repeatedly by Tottenham and was drawn to the ball like a moth to the flame to be burnt again by Atletico.
Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix expertly drifted into the channels to provide another outlet other than Lodi and the versatile Llorente. Again, United's full-backs were devoid of any protection from the lax wingers, this time Anthony Elanga, culpable for a needless tumble at the opposite end that gifted Atletico the possession they profited from.
United players and supporters became increasingly irked at the referee with his apparent tendency to officiate in Atletico's favour beginning with a non-existent foul given against Elanga on Jan Oblak.
Atletico were wiser and their in-game management faultless, if unpalatable United's worsened when they trailed and the crowd's impatience was unhelpful. United were never going to create a hatful of chances against Atletico's artisans and patience was essential.
When the United players dispersed following their line-up shot, Ronaldo raced towards the north stand and clenched his fists, geeing up a traditionally mild-mannered section of the stadium, while Dalot raced towards the Stretford End and clapped bullishly, as did Varane. It was the loudest the stadium had been since the euphoric opening day victory over Leeds.
Tribalism was intensified through the appearance of Luis Suarez, booed and repeatedly called a 'Scouse b-----d' as he approached the tunnel at the end of his warm-up. Suarez did not quicken his pace, seemingly relishing the vitriol a decade on from his infamous refusal to shake the hand of Patrice Evra.
The goading continued into the second-half: Insults were hurled at Suarez as he limbered up and a teammate kicked the ball down the slope of the pitch, incurring the wrath of the fourth official.
The more intimate the opponent, the more ostentatious Ronaldo is. There were six keepy-ups to antagonise the Atletico players and supporters in the second minute and that was about as effective as he was. Rattling opponents is Simeone's forte and he strode to within touching distance of Rangnick to demand a yellow card for Fernandes. Simeone constantly had to be reminded to return to his own perimeter.
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The night was not lost for the United social media team. In the first-half Fred trumped Ronaldo in the showboating with a deceptive double flick to dance past Stefan Savic near the same byline Redondo left Henning Berg with twisted blood. Fredondo could catch on.
Rangnick regularly advised Elanga, within earshot throughout the first-half, offering encouraging words. Elanga softened Oblak up twice with a fair aerial barge and then a point-blank shot that struck the Slovenian on the head.
Elanga had the benefit of Dalot's daring darts yet both were out of position for the sucker punch. They fell into Atletico's trap.
