Diego Simeone says he he expecting an “aggressive” Manchester United to turn up against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

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.

Since thrashing minnows Sabah on their return to the Champions League last month, Man Utd have been beaten by Manchester City and Brighton as well as drawing with Fulham and Tottenham.

Worryingly for United, perhaps, is they’ve not won any of their three away games so far this season. In contrast, Atletico are unbeaten at the Estadio Metropolitano and beat Real Madrid there before the international break.

Despite dropping points at home to struggling Tottenham, condemning the club to their worst start to a league season for 40 years, Man United reportedly have no plans to sack Carrick.

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.

“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."