Man United, An Average Team Now – Scholes

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand summed up their Champions League exit as “embarrassing”.

Ex-United striker Michael Owen said the club has gone backwards under manager Louis van Gaal and former midfielder Paul Scholes called them “average”.

The trio were speaking after a 3-2 loss at Wolfsburg sent United to the Europa League.

“This is a worse squad now. The players Louis van Gaal has let go would beat tonight’s team,” said Owen.

United’s defeat in Germany meant Wolfsburg finished top of Group B, while PSV Eindhoven, who beat CSKA Moscow, reached the last 16 as runners-up.

Van Gaal has been in charge at Old Trafford for 18 months and BT Sport pundits Ferdinand, Owen and Scholes have not seen any improvement, despite the club’s heavy spending in the transfer market.

Scholes has previously stated he “would not enjoy” playing in Van Gaal’s side as there is “a lack of creativity and risk”.

“They spend £250m and can’t qualify from a shocking group,” said Scholes, who played 718 times for the Red Devils.

“It is more of a disaster when you are surprised. It was a shocking group. Will Wolfsburg and PSV get to the last eight? They will get knocked out in the next round.”

ferdinand added: “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, you don’t want to walk around Manchester.

“People look at you and think ‘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.

“If you strip it back, this squad needs a hard look. There is no pace or power. People are looking around at each other rather than saying, ‘I will drag you through’.”

United are fourth in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Leicester, but have been criticised this season for their lack of flair and goals.

Owen reeled off the names of players who have left the club during Van Gaal’s tenure who he believes are better than those who played for United at Wolfsburg.

“Rafael, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, Nani, Shinji Kagawa, Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez, Adnan Januzaj and Danny Welbeck would all get in to that side,” he said.