Wayne Rooney viewed his remarks with reservation. While acknowledging the club's need for greater investment, he felt the defender had gone too far. He pointed out that his own performances had not been up to par either, and judged that the team's collective effort did not warrant such harsh dismissal.

Indeed, United had responded after conceding a goal just 53 seconds in. Baena found space behind the defense and set up Pablo Barrios to make it 1–0. The visitors responded with chances for Mbeumo and Rashford, displaying greater cohesion thanks to the presence of an extra midfielder. Atlético, however, remained dangerous. Grimaldo hit the woodwork with a free-kick, had a goal disallowed for handball in the 44th minute, and Julián Álvarez also struck the woodwork in the 54th minute. In the 69th minute, an effort by Bruno Fernandes met the same fate. Yoro’s sending-off in the 74th minute, following a challenge on Jonathan David, diminished hopes of a comeback. Lookman rounded off the scoring in the 81st minute.

Michael Carrick spoke of four great chances and described the red card as harsh. He declined to comment on Martínez's statements without having seen them, calling instead for unity ahead of the match against Leeds. Belgian international midfielder Youri Tielemans also avoided confrontation, emphasizing hard work, confidence, and the need for victories.

Atlético secured their first points of the competition. United remained on three points, but the impact went beyond the standings; the team now faces the challenge of addressing its weaknesses without compromising its cohesion. Sunday offers an immediate opportunity to bounce back. For it to gain value, the effort will need to be matched by effectiveness—unlike in Madrid, where good moments ultimately failed to yield a goal.