Despite challenging near the summit of the Premier League, this was probably United’s poorest performance of the group as they failed to secure their place in the last 16 of the tournament with one match to spare.
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The Red Devils’ 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg, combined with PSV’s 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow, dragged them into third place in Group B and the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League – Europe’s second-tier competition.
United had taken the lead through Martial after an incisive break led by Juan Mata. PSV equalized two minutes later.
The 18-year-old slotted in at left-back at the Volkswagen Arena and although he wasn’t highly effective in an attacking sense – failing to find a team-mate with two crosses – he offered enough defensive discipline to deny Wolfsburg creative freedom on their right flank. United can play with the handbrake on, control and struggle to score; take the handbrake off and it appears it is apparently hugely vulnerable.
It could not have got any worse for Louis van Gaal or Manchester United in their opening Champions League match of the season in Eindhoven.
Wolfsburg’s response was nearly instant, though, and after Naldo’s volleyed equaliser Vieirinha tapped in to round off an intricate move and put the hosts ahead at half-time.
It proved a false spring for United.
Their Dutch coach after the game said he can not defend himself, yet pointed out stats indicating his side are still in a better position than they were 12 months ago. Ricardo Rodriguez whipped in a low cross and Naldo got in front of Chris Smalling before volleying past David de Gea.
Before the half hour, Julian Draxler – the one-time prodigy whose career had stalled at Schalke and who was sold to Wolfsburg to replace Kevin De Bruyne and revive his career – came inside with the ball. He made several fancy saves to keep his side alive.
The Spaniard, however, was offside and deemed to be interfering with play despite not touching the ball.
But United clawed their way back into the game eight minutes from time when Josuha Guilavogui headed into his own net. Marouane Fellaini went the closest, forcing Benaglio into action with a low header from a corner.
Schweinsteiger’s below standard showings means Powell may be given another chance to show why the Red Devils paid £4million for him.
By the end of the game Wolfsburg had 55 percent of the possession and outshot United 16 to 10. And they hadn’t conceded a few times since October 4.
At the Nordkurve the most boisterous Wolfsburg supporters, behind their banners for Commando Ultra and Weekend Brothers, made a din of their own.
“It was a insane match”, said Van Gaal, who also saw Jesse Lingard have a goal disallowed before half-time on Tuesday.
“It’s going to be a long, hard season”.
Certainly, United is dealing with a flurry of injuries.
“When you overview everything you remember the first match against PSV with the decisions of the referee and also today – they were not positive for us.”
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“We fought for the win, we couldn’t have done more than we have done”, Van Gaal told BT Sport. He had seemingly restored the fallen giant to its former glory. United’s tailspin has yet to be halted.
