United in for Europa League shock – Pochettino

However manager Louis van Gaal tries to dress it up, and he was still insisting United have improved on last season in the wake of the Wolfsburg defeat, this is not the glorious return to Europe’s elite competition the club was expecting.

United finished third in Group B having failed to win any of their away matches, losing at PSV Eindhoven and Wolfsburg, while drawing at CSKA Moscow.

Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes didn’t hold back their criticism of Louis van Gaal’s team: “United just look like an average team, really, and with an average team you get average performances”, said former United midfielder Scholes.

“If you look at the Premier League, everyone talks about how it affects it when you play on the Thursday and the Sunday but for me, you look at the January transfer window. I’m also disappointed that we are out of the Champions League”. Vieirinha regained the lead for Wolfsburg in the 29th, before an own goal by Josuha Guilavogui in the 82nd tied the score. “I think they lack real quality. But we now have to forget this disappointment, pick ourselves up very quickly and focus on the next game”. Luke Shaw’s horrific injury understandably shook the players and resulted in a tactical reshuffle, but to go from 1-0 up to 2-1 down so meekly was perplexing.

“We have a lot of players in the squad that the manager has given a chance to and now they can show themselves, but I hope the injured players come back soon”.

And now the club is faced with the schedule-clogging, energy-sapping competition that is the Europa League.

“We talked about it during the game, because he went the wrong way”, said Draxler.

“Think of Manchester United and you’ve always associated one or two special players who can produce”.

Wolfsburg have never before competed in a UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie, yet their determination to enjoy more nights like Tuesday’s 3-2 victory against Manchester United leaves the Wolves feeling fearless ahead of Monday’s draw.

I call upon you both to discuss this situation with your fellow board members as I am certain that the spirit and sentiment of my letter to you both will be shared by the majority of Manchester United fans around the world.

Speaking on it the tactician said, “I haven’t thought about that at this moment. You’re looking at people looking at you and thinking, ‘Ah, you’re not good enough'”.

If United were to successfully negotiate a lengthy Europa League campaign and win it, their potential losses would stand at £14.8m, yet they would have earned nearly as much in prize money just for reaching the Champions League quarter-finals. – German tennis great Boris Becker adds to that pressure on the United boss.

Asked if United were at a crisis point, he said: “Yeah, probably”.