Manchester United's Champions League woe was delightful from Man City view behind enemy lines

I was at Old Trafford to see Manchester United limp out of the Champions League (again) and it was absolutely hilarious.

As a Manchester City fan, it felt a little odd to watch - and lend my support to - a team wearing a shade of light blue but not called City serving United with a sobering lesson at the supposed Theatre of Dreams. Atletico Madrid's lazer blue strip resembled that of late 90s City, but that's as far as the comparison goes.

Attending the game in a journalistic capacity, I kept my emotions in check when Renan Lodi gave the Spanish side a deserved lead late in the first half. However, it was hard not to crack a smile as the pre-match optimism and atmosphere was sucked out of Old Trafford by a typically defensive and cunning performance from Diego Simeone's team.

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Everyone knows how Cholo sets up in big European fixtures away from home. Atletico defended resolutely, counter-attacked when they could and in the final half-hour wasted time and play-acted like their lives depended on it.

The United fans clearly didn't like that, and I've no doubt that if it was City who had been facing Atleti then I would have felt equally frustrated. But at least Atletico and their manager have an identity, even if it has appeared muddled at times this season. United should focus on discovering their own, rather than on moaning about how their opponents play and win.

In hindsight, it was not the greatest of games, but the atmosphere generated by the travelling Spanish fans more than made up for that. The sight of a bouncing away end at Old Trafford is one of life's simple pleasures, especially when the supporters have