Manchester United should be 'embarrassed' to be in Europa League after Wolfsburg loss, says Rio Ferdinand

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Manchester United have been heavily criticised their former players and Champions League winners after the 3-2 defeat by Wolfsburg left them in the Europa League, something that Rio Ferdinand says “embarrasses” the club.

United were unable to get the victory they needed in Germany to ensure their progression into the last-16 of the Champions League, and their worst fears materialised as 10-man PSV Eindhoven battled back from a goal down to beat CSKA Moscow and join Wolfsburg in reaching the knockout stages.

In finishing Group B in third place, United will have to front up to the prospect of playing Europa League football on Thursday nights, and former defender Ferdinand labelled the loss an “embarrassment” that will leave the players not wanting to show their faces in public.

"It's embarrassing," the former United and England captain said.

"I was in a squad that went into the Europa League (in 2011) and it's an embarrassment.

"You don't want to come out of your house, you don't want to walk around Manchester, you're looking at people looking at you and thinking, 'Ah, you're not good enough', questioning you as an individual and as part of a team that didn't get through the group stages that you should have, on paper."

United went ahead through an early Anthony Martial goal, but soon found themselves trailing after effort from Aparecido Rodrigues and a lovely team effort from Vierinha. However, they gave themselves hope with just eight minutes remaining of normal time when Josuha Guilavogui headed the ball into his own net, and at that point United were heading through with PSV Eindhoven also drawing at that point.

But things would take a turn for the worst just two minutes later as Brazil defender Naldo put the ball past David De Gea and into the back of the net via Daley Blind to condemn United to defeat and eliminate them from this season’s Champions League.