Matic: We have to inspire a great atmosphere

Tuesday 15 March 2022 11:43

Nemanja Matic believes Manchester United will “find a way to score goals” against Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford, despite the Spanish champions’ reputation for stubborn defending.

The Champions League last-16 tie between the two clubs is poised delicately at 1-1 after Anthony Elanga’s finish rescued the Reds in the Wanda Metroplitano.
 
But with no away-goals rule in play in this season’s UEFA competitions, neither team has an advantage heading into the second leg.
 
A big atmosphere is expected at the Theatre of Dreams, but Matic says that it’s the players’ responsibility to fuel and harness the crowd’s passion via a strong performance.

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“Atletico is a big game for us,” admitted the Serbian. “We drew away, so we know that we have to win at home in front of our supporters. 
 
“We know it’s not going to be easy. They defend well and they’re very compact as a team. We have to find a way to score goals.
 
“Am I expecting a great atmosphere? I hope, but to have an amazing atmosphere we need to obviously perform well on the pitch, then supporters, for sure, will follow that. 
 
“As I said, we will do everything to win. Doesn’t matter how we play, we need to score goals and win these kind of games. We need to be experienced enough. This part of the season is only about the results.”
Diego Simeone’s Atleti side won La Liga last year – in a season that was played entirely without supporters, due to Covid-19 – but Los Indios have not quite refound their best form in 2021/22.
 
Nevertheless, despite trailing Real Madrid by 15 points in the Spanish top flight, Atleti have won their last four league matches and have several key players – Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann among them – returning to form and fitness.
 
But in Matic’s eyes, it’s their competitive spirit, honed through years of battling for the top prizes under Simeone, that makes them such dangerous opponents.
90 in 20: Atletico Madrid 1 United 1 Video

90 in 20: Atletico Madrid 1 United 1

Set aside 20 minutes to watch the extended highlights of our Champions League last-16 first leg in Spain...

“They fight on the pitch and they’re always compact,” he explains. “The results in the last 10 years, you see how they win games 1-0, 2-1 and yes, it’s hard to play against them. 
 
“I’m sure if we put all our quality on the pitch that we will find a way to score goals because they also have a weakness, so we have to recognise that on the pitch and to use their weaknesses at any moment.”
 
“Will the away goals rule change affect us? No, we just need to win the game. We have to understand that and go with everything to win. It doesn’t matter what the first result was; we have to do everything to win and start from zero.”
 
“[Getting through to the quarter-finals] will help everyone to have more confidence until the end of the season. We need to be compact as a team and as a club. We need to all have the same mentality.”

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