"That very moment caused a negative reaction in the group."
Ralf Rangnick revealed the Atletico Madrid defeat 'destroyed' the Manchester United players following their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.
Goals from Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka, and Granit Xhaka provided the Red Devils with their third defeat in the last four games.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th Premier League goal and 22nd goal of the season, in a defeat that left Man United six points adrift of fourth place, with an extra game played.
Ralf Rangnick rules Man United out of the top four race.
Rangnick described Man United's top four ambitions as "not very realistic" following the defeat to Arsenal.
The interim boss pinpointed the next two games against Chelsea and Brentford as an opportunity to make up for their poor results, with four Premier League games remaining.
"You look at the table, Tottenham and Arsenal, it's not very realistic to dream and talk about top four," Rangnick
said after the game.
"It's a question again of pride, a question of honour, we owe that to the fans, we have two home games against Chelsea and Brentford.
Rangnick on United's defining defeat.
Rangnick reflected on the Red Devils' exit from the Champions League, describing the defeat to Atletico as destroying "a lot of hopes and also the emotions" of some players.
Man United's last five games have not lived up to expectations with Rangnick's side only picking up four points.
"The defeat to Atletico destroyed a lot of hopes and also the emotions of some of the players which I can understand," Rangnick added.
"That very moment caused a negative reaction in the group and the draw against Leicester and defeat at Everton also had some effect."
Man United remain in sixth place in the Premier League after the defeat, with their rivals all having at least a game in hand on the Red Devils.
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