I will stop football if Chelsea wins championships league twice in a role – Man United star boy makes the statement as he supports real Madrid to win over Chelsea

 

The Red Devils crashed out of Europe with defeat to Atletico Madrid, leaving the club with questions to answer at every level in the coming months

 

In a season of lows for Manchester United, this was the lowest.

 

Their final chance of silverware gone, as they were dumped out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford.

 

Ralf Rangnick had called for a better display from his team than the one he saw in Madrid, and for half an hour he got what he asked for. But Renan Lodi’s header, coupled with naivety from United in the second half, sent the Red Devils crashing out at the last-16 stage.

 

Not only does this mean that their wait for a trophy will go into a sixth year, but their dismal record in Champions League knockout ties has continued. They have won just two ties since 2011: an elite European club, at least on the pitch, they are not.

 

A more immediate concern is that a return to the competition next season is far from certain. A fourth-place finish in the Premier League is out of their hands, and with potential qualification by winning the tournament this season now impossible, they face a real prospect of another year of Europa League football, at best.

 

Watching some of United’s displays this season, it would not be difficult to argue that they belong in Europe’s second tier, rather than among the very best.