Manchester United survived Dominique Janssen’s controversial red card to continue their strong start to the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
Fridolina Rolfo had put the visitors ahead with her first goal for the club after an impressive opening 25 minutes, but United were left reeling just before half-time after Janssen was given his marching orders following a VAR review.
The defender was initially shown a yellow card after bringing down Atleti striker Gio Garbelini. Although the initial decision seemed fair given the nature of the challenge, referee Eleni Antoniou was sent to the on-field monitor to review the decision.
The card was reversed and changed to red, with Garbelini subsequently stretched following the challenge.
Despite this, the visitors managed to maintain their slim lead. Rolfo, the former Barcelona player, fired a powerful volley from close range to give her team the lead with her 20th Champions League goal.
United should have been 2-0 up before the red card as Melvine Malard and Julia Zigiotti Olme combined wonderfully on the edge of the penalty area, but the former was unable to apply the finishing touch from close range.
Atletico provided more pressure through their numerical advantage, with Phallon Tullis-Joyce having to do his best to deny Luamy.
Any hope that the extra player could pay dividends ended when, with just over a quarter of an hour to go, Athletic defender Alexia Fernandez received a second yellow card following a careless challenge on substitute Leah Galton. Galton would help create another golden opportunity for Malard’s late gates, which was wasted.
This failure did not change the end result, however, as United ensured they maintained their 100% start in their debut Champions League campaign, making them the only English team to do so.
Skinner praises spirit of 10-man Man Utd
Mark Skinner praised his team’s “Manchester United spirit” after overcoming Janssen’s first-half red card to maintain their perfect start to the new Women’s Champions League campaign.
“There are games where you play beautiful football and there are games where you fight and show the other side of the game and the quality of your team,” Skinner said in an interview on the Manchester United website.
“Quality is easy to measure when you score a lot of goals, but to fight when everything is against you, and to do it with the quality and spirit that this team showed tonight, shows what we are building. I am truly incredibly proud of them.”
Skinner added: “I was always brought up watching Manchester United in Europe on TV, watching the historic moments, the close games where they step up and have the ability to win those games.
“Looking at our team, I think we have the same spirit: we have the spirit of Manchester United through and through.”
Rolfo: “The game changed after the red card”
Manchester United scorer Fridolina Rolfe talk to ESPN:
“It feels good right now. We fought really hard today. It was a tough time. I’m really happy with the three points. Really strong mentality.
“We knew we were playing against a good team. Spanish teams are always good technically and tactically. It was important to score an early goal. The game changed when we got the red card. Mentally it was a game that changed a lot.
“It’s very important. You can see today we have players on the bench who can make a big impact. You see players like Leah Galton coming in. She did a great job, made some great tackles and kept the ball. We need the whole team, not just the starting XI.
“I can say that it means a lot to the club [playing in the Champions League]. There are so many girls who have been waiting for this. We’re doing really well at the moment, I hope we can continue like this.”
“We want to prove that we are good without the ball”
That of Manchester United Julia Zigiotti Olme talk to ESPN:
“It was a tough game. Lots of running, lots of blocking. Lots of heart from the team. Happy to get the win.
“In the first quarter of the season we have been really good. Today was not our best game but we are showing that we are proud to be Manchester United players.
“Every player who came in made the difference. They helped the team. I can’t find the words at the moment. They gave everything and helped us.
“I think it’s important for us that even though these things happen [the red card]we can defend ourselves and show that we are good in defense even if we don’t have the ball.
‘Garbelini’s injury impacted Atleti’
Vilda Boe Risa of Atletico Madrid talk to ESPN on the injury suffered by Gio Garbelini:
“It wasn’t pleasant. She was in a lot of pain. She was really scared and upset because she knew what was happening.
“We just tried to calm her down and say, ‘You don’t know what it is yet.’
“It’s obviously hard to calm down. I’m gutted for her. She’s an incredible player. I hope it’s not too serious an injury.”
