The result leaves all options open, but team manager Ralf Rangnick is tough on his stars at Manchester United.
"I still can't believe what we played in the first half," said the German coach after the English record champions' 1-1 (0-1) win in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Atlético Madrid.
Rangnick complained that Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. played "without conviction" and "without the necessary aggressiveness".
Substitute Anthony Elanga, just 19 years old, managed to equalize in the 80th minute after going behind Joao Felix (7th).
"It's fun to watch him.
I wish a few other players would take him as an example.
Not because he does everything right, but because he enjoys himself on the pitch," said Rangnick.
In the second leg on March 15, the “Red Devils” can only keep their last title chance of the season by winning.
Madrid coach Diego Simeone surprised Manchester in the early stages.
Contrary to their formal line-up, the Spaniards, who have been beaten in the domestic league, made one attack after another on the guest goal with their former keeper David de Gea between the posts, even without their star strikers Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann.
After Felix's lead, Atlético hit the crossbar of Manchester's goal again during their urge phase.
Only in the final phase of the first round did Atlético's pressure ease off a bit.
Manchester still got few opportunities to implement Rangnick's requirements for more ball possession.
The English had already had to change their plans at short notice when they arrived.
After the escalation in the Ukraine conflict, according to several media reports, the club canceled the flight to Madrid originally planned with the Russian flight partner Aeroflot and chartered a machine for the trip from another provider.
Manchester's game appeared just as bumpy as the arrival after the change of sides.
Ronaldo and his congenial teammate Paul Pogba continued to practically not take place.
Even as Madrid slowed down early in the closing stages, Rangnick's side were unable to take advantage of the larger spaces before Elanga completed a quick counter-attack with somewhat surprising success.