Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick on BT Sport: "We want to play as we have played in the last couple of games and put pressure on the other team by being as compact as we can be.

"Both is possible (Victor Lindelof playing as a centre back or right back). That is the good thing with this line up. Hopefully we start well like we did against Leeds and keep a clean sheet and hopefully score one or two goals.

"They have enough quality they have five top strikers but we are prepared for that. We just need to make sure we don't give them that many chances."

Manchester United

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Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 25 goals in 35 matches against Atletico Madrid, only scoring more often against Sevilla during his entire career.

Four of Ronaldo's 48 club career hat-tricks have come against Atletico.

Andy West
Spanish football writer

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When Angel Correa signed for Atletico Madrid for 7.5m euros as a 19-year-old in 2014, big things were expected from the Argentine forward.

But, even before the teenager kicked the ball for the his new side, Correa was diagnosed with a heart tumour that put his career at risk and saw him wait 16 months for his Atletico debut after immediate surgery.

Now, the pint-sized dynamo - who has often been underrated despite more than 300 appearances for Diego Simeone's side - is finally stepping out of the shadows.

Atletico entertain Manchester United in the Champions League tonight, with the likes of Luis Suarez, £100m signing Joao Felix and French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann at their disposal. But, arguably, it is Correa who will pose the biggest threat to United.

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Manchester United

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick on Scott McTominay's absence: "He's ill unfortunately. I spoke with him this afternoon, he's still not feeling well.

"We had a little bit of hope that he might be available but he was not so we had to find the best possible formation and line-up without Scotty."

Stoic: Another Champions league Night. ManUtd Vs Atleti. Poised for another game of wits and counter attacking footie. Kind of Nights we long for. C'mon Lads. GGMU

Kieran Trippier
Newcastle and England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

In meetings Diego Simeone is so emotional. He is just obsessed with every moment. There have been times where I have been in bed asleep and he has called me after games and he is talking about how we could have done better.

I have had random texts and calls off him about games. He is football crazy. He is an incredible manager and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work with him because I have learnt so much.

The training was relentless and he is one of those managers who you have to run through a brick wall for. If you don't run or work hard he will pull you out. If there is not enough quality in the warm up drills he will let you know.

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Atletico Madrid and Manchester United have only met in the same European campaign once before – the 1991-92 Cup Winners’ Cup – when the Spanish side knocked out their English counterparts 4-1 on aggregate in the last-16.

Bill Rice
BBC Radio Manchester

Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick made it clear he doesn't expect their Champions League last-16 tie with Atletico Madrid to be settled in Spain, but rather in the second leg at Old Trafford in three weeks' time.

That explains why he wants his side to match the emotion and energy of the Spanish champions, while being mentally prepared for a potentially hostile atmosphere at the Wanda Metropolitano.

He also heaped praise on Diego Simeone, who he said in 11 years has developed a clear identity in their style of play, and changed the club into "one of the most respected in Europe" - perhaps reminding everyone at the same time how little time he has had to implement his own ideas on United.

That's not to say he doesn't believe the Reds can progress - in fact he went as far as to say "competing in the Champions League can never be a distraction", even with the Reds in a dogfight to finish in the top four in the Premier League.

Rangnick says the Reds want to show everyone they are able to beat one of the best teams in Europe - and they have a chance to do that.

Kieran Trippier
Newcastle and England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Koke is a great leader so I think they will miss that calmness. But you see the Atletico line up and they have quality all over the pitch. I am really looking forward to the game. I am excited by it.

When I was at the club we had a really good structure and defence. Injuries have not helped and played a big part. It has been difficult (defensively) this year. As soon as you start changing the back line it is not going to be as fluent.

But tonight it will be different and the atmosphere will be incredible. It will be electric and I can see Madrid coming out and pressing United and making it very uncomfortable from the off.

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Diego Simeone's Atletico have won only three of their past eight matches in all competitions and lost in their last home match, 1-0 against Levante on 16 February.

They will be without midfielder Koke after their captain sustained an injury in their 3-0 win over Osasuna on Saturday, while midfielder Yannick Carrasco and defender Felipe are both suspended.

"We're facing one of the best teams in the world," said Simeone on Tuesday. "In the last 14 games, they've lost one and the new manager (Rangnick) has given them that solidity. The team is much more compact, stronger and much more solid.

"Manchester United have evolved since the new manager has arrived. They are fourth in the league, have very brave and good forwards and he has got them to unite.

"We will try to find a way to hurt them and find a way to goal. I've no doubt my players will give their all."

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Fred would have maybe come back into the side tonight anyway alongside Scott McTominay to give them more solidity in the middle of the park.

The initial team sheet we received showed Bruno Fernandes as the Man Utd captain and that caused quite a stir before it was confirmed that Harry Maguire was actually captaining the team.

Manchester United

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Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has warned his side they face "a hostile atmosphere" in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie away to Atletico Madrid tonight.

The opening game is in Spain before the return at Old Trafford on 15 March.

"Some of our players will not be received with a red carpet," said Rangnick.

"Mentally, we need to be prepared for an emotional and hostile atmosphere. This is not the easiest of draws."

Manchester United finished top of Group F, while Atletico - who won La Liga last season but are only fifth domestically in 2021-22 - came second behind Liverpool in Group B.

"We have the chance to reach the quarter-finals," added the German. "We have to show we're up for it."

Ravindra Reddy: It seems like we can expect an attacking play from Varane. RR magics.

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Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone makes three changes from the side that started their 3-0 win at Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday.

Koke is injured while fellow midfielder Yannick Carrasco is suspended and Luis Suarez drops to the bench. That means Angel Correa, Renan Lodi and Geoffrey Kondogbia all start for the Spanish Champions.

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Gimenez, Savic, Mandava, Lodi, Vrsaljko, Kondogbia, Llorente, Herrera, Felix, Correa.

Subs: Lecomte, Christian,De Paul, Griezmann, Suarez, Lemar, Felipe, Hermoso, Serrano.

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick makes three changes to side that began the 4-2 Premier League win at Leeds on Sunday.

Scott McTominay misses out and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jesse Lingard drop to the bench. That means Raphael Varane, Fred and Marcus Rashford all start for the visitors.

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Varane, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho, Ronaldo.

Subs: Henderson, Heaton, Bailly, Jones, Mata, Dalot, Lingard, Telles, Wan-Bisska, Matic, Elanga, Mejbri.

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Bruno Fernandes is making the right noises his manager and the fans will want to hear, but time will tell whether those noises are real or not.

One or two victories doesn’t bring that unity, you need to do it over a longer period, particularly in the big games, like this one.

It will be similar in atmosphere to what they faced at Leeds. They will come under severe pressure, as they did at Leeds, and how do they stand up to it?

Against Southampton and Burnley recently, they weren’t up to the challenge and couldn’t turn that momentum back round.

Usually if you get drawn against Atletico, you are in for a difficult time - but the feeling is different this season. Liverpool showed it is possible to win here [3-2 in the group stage], but what are we going to get from Manchester United? That is the key. We have not seen it consistently enough this season.

Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes has denied rumours of a split in the Manchester United dressing room and says the players are focused on "sticking together".

A story in the Mirror, external claimed a power struggle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire was causing unrest.

Fernandes, 27, dismissed those rumours and says their celebrations at Leeds on Sunday is proof of a united team.

"It is honestly people trying to complain and making stories about this club," said the Portugal midfielder.

Fernandes added: "I don't know what people mean. I saw the goal of H [Maguire] and saw Paul [Pogba] running behind, sliding on his knees, happy for him. I was slapping his head and saying finally he had scored with that big head.

"We know when someone talks about this club or players at this club, it goes around the world with their voice. That is something that they want.

"For us, it is nothing. If we stick to the plan and stick together, that is the main thing. Losing together and winning together."

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BBC Radio 5 Live

You can listen to build-up and full coverage of this game now on BBC Radio 5 Live.

They've got a special guest too, with former Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier - now at Newcastle - providing insight.

Tune in.

Manchester United

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Manchester United midfielder Fred says it is "a bit strange" that the club is playing with an interim manager until the end of the season.

Ralf Rangnick took over the club on a temporary basis when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left Old Trafford in November.

Rangnick said his side's 4-2 win at Leeds was the "perfect response" to reports of unrest in his squad.

"We don't know how it's going to be at the end of this season," Fred said. Speaking to Brazilian broadcaster TNT Sports about playing more than half a season with an interim manager he said: "It is a bit strange.

"I know in football it's important to get good results as soon as possible, but it's also important to have a long-term plan.

"I think it's a little bit bad for us not to have one, at the moment it's all about the short-term goals."

Manchester United

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Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick takes charge of his first Champions League knockout tie in 11 years since Schalke's 6-1 aggregate semi-final loss to United back in 2010-11.

Is that Joel Matip sitting on the bench behind him??

There is no Scott McTominay in the Manchester United starting line-up, Marcus Rashford starts.

Luis Suarez is on the bench for Atletico Madrid.

Full team news to come.