German side, VFL Wolfsburg, defeated Manchester United 3-2 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, to send the three-time champions packing from the competition.
Anthony Martial put United ahead in the 10th minute before Naldo volleyed in the equaliser four minutes later.
Vieirinha gave Wolfsburg the lead in the 29th then an own goal by Josuha Guilavogui in the 82nd tied the score.
But two minutes later Naldo scored his second with a header to seal Wolfsburg’s victory and increase pressure on United coach Louis van Gaal.
The loss, coupled with PSV Eindhoven’s 2-1 home victory over CSKA Moscow, dropped United to third place in Group B, meaning that it will now play in the Europa League.
Wolfsburg won the group with 12 points and PSV also advanced with 10 points, two more than United.
“You can say that we were the favourites but we were in a very tight group and all the results were like that. It is always 1-0 or 2-1,” a frustrated van Gaal told BT Sport after the game.
“I said it in advance but when you overview everything you remember the match against PSV with also the decisions of the referee and also today, there are decisions of the referee that are not positive for us. When it is a tight group then it can happen.”
United had a goal disallowed by the referee and the Dutchman was left fuming.
“When you see that as a linesman then you are very good,” van Gaal laughed.
“When you first give it as a goal and then a few players come and say to you, then you change your mind, that is strange in my opinion.
“I don’t think the goalkeeper was interfered with by Mata because the ball is turning in the goal, I don’t think he can reach that ball. Of course he sees Mata in the offside position and takes the benefit of that.”
Former England defender, Rio Ferdinand, hit out at his former club for failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Ferdinand said on BT Sport: :It’s embarrassing. I was in a squad that went into the Europa League and it’s an embarrassment.
“You don’t want to come out of your house or walk around Manchester.”
The internet sure has a lot to say about United’s crash into the lower tier of Europe’s club football.
Welcome to Europa League Van Gagal!
— Anamin Skywalker (@mohiminghani) December 8, 2015
And one thing LVG do your best to break out hearts in the Europa league. — Al amin Tukur (@Alamin_Tukur) December 8, 2015
The worse part about Europa league is the pitch. One side get grass, one side get mud. You waka anyhow you put leg for rabbit hole.
— CHUKWUMA (@AgboChukwuma) December 8, 2015
U should be grateful u fell into the Europa league some teams were eliminated totally — OBIDIPONBIDI (@Mr_macCollins) December 8, 2015
Frustrating thing about playing in the Europa league is being knocked out by a club whose name you’ve never heard of nor can pronounce
— Imoh Umoren (@ImohUmoren) December 8, 2015
Getting one point off a team as average as PSV means you deserve to go to the Europa league. Simple — Stevie G (@StevieGrainger) December 8, 2015
They don’t want to face them because no one wants to play Europa league football!! ??? https://t.co/yYWfje2Coq
— Joe (@jgmcfc34) December 8, 2015
Laughing at United is over now. Hopefully we qualify tomorrow. If not, expect Welbz to score the winner vs United in the Europa League. — 1886 (@1886_blog) December 8, 2015
Man United in the Europa League. Can you believe it? https://t.co/bS4U0FkiYH
— JOE.co.uk (@JOE_co_uk) December 8, 2015
Does the Europa League even have a theme song? — Mertescielny (@flame_gloriosa) December 8, 2015
