Infinite pressure on Crick/ Red Devils' crucial mission in Madrid

Manchester United and Atlético Madrid will play one of the most exciting group-stage clashes of the Champions League.

According to "Sports Three", Manchester United will travel to the Spanish capital on Tuesday night to look for a victory in the European Champions League and strengthen the morale of his team. The match is against Atletico Madrid, but the trip is also a bitter reminder of the unstable times the club has experienced since the departure of Alex Ferguson.

Diego Simeone has been in charge of Atletico Madrid since December 2011, more than a year before Ferguson left Manchester United in May 2013 after 26 years in charge. After Ferguson's departure, Manchester United experienced a period full of ups and downs under the leadership of seven permanent managers and a number of interim coaches and failed to win any of the English domestic cups.

In contrast, Simeone's Atlético have maintained their place among Spain's top teams, winning the Spanish league in 2014 and 2021, despite fierce competition from the financial and sporting might of Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Rojiblancos have also competed in the Champions League every season since 2014-13, reaching the final twice and the semi-finals twice.

While Manchester United have missed out on several of Europe's most important club tournaments since Ferguson's departure, it represents a significant drop for a team that has spent much of Ferguson's tenure as one of the continent's dominant powers. Under Simeone, Atlético have maintained a distinct identity based on hard work ethic and unyielding determination, even as the team has evolved from a solid defensive group to one more comfortable attacking.

In contrast, Manchester United have seen numerous managers with different philosophies, while the only constant has been a lack of consistency. Even the Atlético stadium shows the difference between these two clubs. The modern Metropolitano Stadium is set to host the Champions League final next June, after hosting the 2019 final in which arch-rivals Liverpool won. While the Old Trafford Stadium has not been chosen as one of the host stadiums for the 2028 European Cup.

Atletico Madrid fans also have their own list of grievances, especially given the heightened expectations under Simeone, but compared to the constant turmoil at Old Trafford, they may appreciate the stability their club has enjoyed. Atletico have started the season well despite the uncertainty surrounding Julián Alvarez in the summer. Ultimately, the Argentinian striker stayed in Madrid and began to bring his game back to a reliable level.

Even without Alvarez playing a pivotal role, Simeone's side are second in the Spanish league and won against rivals Real Madrid before the international break. In contrast, Manchester United under Michael Carrick are struggling to achieve the same level of consistency. The team is 13th in the Premier League and is experiencing its worst start to the season since 1986-87. The draw against Tottenham on Saturday increased the pressure on Carrick and his team. The Red Devils have only won two in eight games in all competitions this season. "This is the reality and we have to accept it," Carrick said. "We need to change things quickly and positively, and that's quite clear."

Manchester United have been criticized for a lack of physical effort this season, including against Tottenham where players covered more distance, ran faster and made more starts, which is never acceptable under Simeone, who is known for his strictness.

Manchester United beat Azerbaijan's Sabah 4-0 in their first Champions League group stage match but the trip to the Metropolitano Stadium will be a completely different test against a team that is experiencing a positive trend and a culture based on strength that has been built over more than a decade.