Deflated David de Gea lost for words as Manchester United crash out of Champions League

David De Gea looked deflated as the long-serving goalkeeper reflected on “another bad year” for Manchester United following the meek Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid.

The rudderless Red Devils will end a fifth straight campaign without a trophy and face an uphill battle to return to European football’s top table as a poor season hurtles towards a disappointing conclusion.

The Champions League offered hope, albeit faint, of a first trophy since lifting the Europa League in 2017, but wily Atleti extinguished those hopes.

Renan Lodi’s first-half header secured a 1-0 win at Old Trafford and 2-1 aggregate triumph in the last 16 against a United side that have won just two knockout games in this competition since De Gea arrived from Atleti in 2011.

“Difficult to describe with words how I feel, how we feel,” the crestfallen Spain international said in the post-match press conference.

“It’s another tough moment for us. It wasn’t enough what we did to beat Atletico in two games. I think they’re an experienced team, they know how to play those games very well and it’s a very difficult moment for us.”

Asked if it was the most upset he felt after a Champions League elimination, De Gea said: “Yeah, it’s always tough when you go out of the Champions League, especially the way we did. We got a good draw in Madrid and then we play here with the fans.

“I don’t know if we should win this game, to be honest, but we don’t win the game and we’re out again, another bad year for us, so it’s very, very tough.”

Not only are United without a trophy in five years but they have failed to launch a sustained Premier League title charge since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as champion in 2013.

“There are too many years without any trophies, even