Diego Simeone reveals Manchester United's strengths ahead of Champions League clash

Michael Carrick’s Man United will go into Tuesday night’s league phase clash in the Spanish capital without a win four games across all competitions.

While Simeone acknowledges the Red Devils’ slow start to the campaign, he believes Carrick has options at his disposal that will make things difficult for the LaLiga side.

“They apply a lot of pressure in the opposition’s half,” Simeone said of United in his news conference on Monday.

“They’re very aggressive, play with great intensity, make clever runs to buy time in the first phase of pressing and have quick players.

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes both trained for Manchester United ahead of facing Atletico Madrid

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“We know how difficult this competition is. The [league phase] format challenges you to pick up points, whether at home or away, and we need points just like everyone else who wants to advance.

“The match will be long and we have to manage our efforts to compete well.

“Balance, both defensively and offensively, has always strengthened us, and when the team works together we achieve great things."