Man United find surprise midfield undroppable as Ralf Rangnick's Champions League experiment fails

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