Manchester United fell 3-2 to German club Wolfsburg on Tuesday, eliminating United from champions league play. The loss to Wolfsburg, coupled with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven defeating CSKA Moscow, will see United play in the Europa League in 2016.
United took the lead in the tenth minute on an Anthony Martial goal, however Wolfsburg answered back scoring twice before the half. An own goal by Joshua Guilavogui tied the match for the Red Devils. Minutes later, Naldo put Wolfsburg ahead for good with a header that would prove to be the winning goal.
United Coach Louis van Gaal spoke after the loss, and despite being eliminated from Champions League contention, he remains confident the team is making strides.
"The facts say we are better than last year," van Gaal said "I can only give facts, but of course I am disappointed that we are out of the Champions League."
Poor defending is what ultimately costed United a place in the Champions League, according to Daniel Taylor, but van Gaal spoke about things out of his control after the loss. "We weren't very lucky today with the decisions from the referee," said van Gaal, speaking of a United goal that was called back due to offside.
Van Gaal perhaps showed a little frustration after the loss by calling into question the quality of German-born captain Bastian Schweinsteiger. "He wants to play at the highest level, especially in Germany, to show his qualities, but I can't say he was the Bastian Schweinsteiger I saw during my Bayern Munich days."
Despite missing seven first string players, there are high expectations for United. A first glance United should have easily cruised through Group B en route to the round of 16, according to ESPN. Instead they find themselves winless in the last 4 matches. It is inevitable that there will be rumblings about a replacement for van Gaal.
While United will have to wait for next year's Champions League, Wolfsburg made club history qualifying for Champions League knockout stage as Group B winners for the first time.