Paul Scholes & Rio Ferdinand identify Man Utd’s biggest weakness after Champions League exit

Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League last-16 after a 1-0 loss in their second leg to Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.

The Red Devils, who were looking to reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2019, continued their poor run of exiting the Champions League last-16 after drawing the first leg.

United have now been knocked out of the running for any silverware this season, leaving them to focus on their remaining nine league fixtures and potentially a top-four finish.

Former Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand believes that after the club’s elimination from the Champions League, and with Arsenal having three games in hand over them, United’s season is all but over.

"That’s [the] season over,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport after the game. “What is there really to achieve? Floundering behind Arsenal if they win their games in hand.

"Tonight was a reflection of what the season has been like. There were moments in the game where United looked good, but far too often, it’s a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance."

Ralf Rangnick’s side were statistically the better performers on Tuesday evening but couldn’t break Atletico’s solid defence down .

Despite this, ex-Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes believes that Rangnick is the reason for the club failed to progress to the next stage of the competition, claiming if they want to taste success again, they’ll need to hire a ‘proper coach’.

"This isn’t a terrible group of players," Scholes said. "I think if you give this group of players a structure and way of playing, there’s some real talent in the squad.

"They’re not as talented as the teams above them [in the Premier League], we know that. But, the very first thing this club needs to do, to get anywhere near winning the league again, is get a proper coach.

"Get a coach that suits the players, give them two or three years to build a squad of players that will challenge."

United currently sit fifth in the Premier League, one point behind Arsenal in fourth. Rangnick will need his team to bounce back against Leicester City on April 2 after the international break.