Chelsea set the blueprint for Ralf Rangnick to unleash Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League

As the old Twitter saying goes, I guess beating Atletico Madrid is not for everyone.

Manchester United took on Atletico Madrid in their round 16 Champions League clash and failed to do what Chelsea had done exactly one year ago.

The Spanish Champions had a tough time facing Thomas Tuchel's team last season. Exactly a year later, they were tasked to meet yet another English team. This time, they were ahead of the curve.

Man United go into their second leg all squared with Atletico, and they will need to see out the tie at their home ground. It just makes you appreciate how well Tuchel was able to wrap up the tie in the first leg. Maybe the Godfather of 'gegenpress' should take a look at how his graduate was able to get the better of the Madrista's.

Last season, Chelsea took on the then La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid and schooled them. Against all the odds, Tuchel came into Chelsea with fresh ideas and installed a new mindset within the group. The Blues managed to break down a tough, low block, with Olivier Giroud delivering a spectacular goal. He managed to bypass the offside allegations with a bicycle kick to send Chelsea into the second leg with one foot into the quarter-final. His last ever goal for the club, and what a goal it was, winning Chelsea's 2020/21 season goal.

I remember that goal as if it was yesterday—a difficult skill to conquer under immense pressure. The finish was absolutely stunning. Tuchel's clean sheet record was still intact, and the centre-back trio of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta managed to keep Atletico's formidable attack out.

I may not be a tactical genius, but having seen Diogo Dalot placed on the lineup as a right-back, I instantly believed Ralf Rangnick was