‘Man Utd need to play like Elanga’

Red Devils manager Rangnick praises teen after he helps team bag 1-1 draw

MADRID:

Ralf Rangnick told his Manchester United team to play with the same care-free attitude as Anthony Elanga after the 19-year-old salvaged a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Elanga came on as a substitute in the 75th minute and scored in the 80th, after Atletico had dominated the majority of their Champions League last 16 first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.

But the draw felt like a victory for United, who were woeful in the first half yet escaped with a result that puts them in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals.

"In all the games he has played, he shows he is playing with passion and fun," Rangnick said. "He is just enjoying himself on the pitch, he is aware of his weapons and he wants to show his weapons.

"Not just with the goal he scored, he had three or four great runs. Atletico had problems with this approach. We have to show this in other positions as well, one or two other players, in every single position. If we want to go through we have to play like that."

United failed to have a single touch in the Atletico penalty area in the first 45 minutes.

"After the performance in the first half, it could only get better," Rangnick told BT Sport.

"What we played in the first half I still cannot believe. We played without conviction, without aggression and that is why we were struggling.

"In the second half we did better, with more possession in areas that mattered and if we played another 10 minutes we might have won the game. We have to play better in the first half, I was very disappointed by that performance in the first half."

Rangnick was asked in his press conference what he told the United players at half-time.

"I told them this is not enough," he said.

"We have to have more energy. It's not about game-plans or tactics. It's about conviction. It's about belief. This is not enough. This is the Champions League."

Elanga raced onto Bruno Fernandes' through ball, skipped away from Reinildo Mandava's challenge and slid a finish into the far corner.

"I think it was my first touch as well," Elanga said.

"I have dreamt of moments like this, scoring in the Champions League against top European teams like Atletico Madrid, it's a dream come true.

"It is only the first half of the tie, we have to be ready for the second half at Old Trafford."

Haller scores at both ends

Sebastien Haller kept up his remarkable scoring record in this season's Champions League, finding the target at the right end shortly after putting through his own net as Ajax drew 2-2 with Benfica in their last 16, first leg on Wednesday.

Haller's 26th-minute own goal cancelled out Dusan Tadic's opener for the Dutch champions at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, but the Ivory Coast striker then put Ajax back in front just three minutes later.

It was not enough for Erik ten Hag's side to win the game, as Ukraine international Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench in the second half to earn Benfica a deserved draw.

However, Haller has now scored 11 goals in this season's Champions League after ending the group stage in double figures.

"We are a bit frustrated. We could and should have done better and we are a bit disappointed to leave here having drawn 2-2," Haller told French broadcaster Canal Plus.

Of his own goal, he added: "It's not the best feeling, especially as it gave them the equaliser and gave them a lift.

"It was a blow to our morale but it is our job to remain focused, to not let our heads go down in such a situation."

Having never played in the competition before this season, Haller is the first player to score in each of his first seven Champions League appearances.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Ruud van Nistelrooy have scored in more consecutive Champions League matches, with Ronaldo doing so in 11 straight games between 2017 and 2018.

The former West Ham United man is also just the second Ajax player to score 11 goals in Europe in the same season, after Ruud Geels in 1975/76.

However, with UEFA having abolished the away goals rule in Europe, the tie remains firmly in the balance going into the return leg in Amsterdam on March 15.

Ajax took the lead in the 18th minute in this meeting of two clubs with six European Cups between them thanks to a fine finish from skipper Tadic.

Alex Grimaldo lost possession under pressure from Noussair Mazraoui who then delivered a measured cross from the Ajax right for Tadic to score with a cushioned first-time finish for his 10th goal of the season.