LONDON: Louis van Gaal is 18 months and $375 million into his “process” of rebuilding Manchester United.

What’s it got him? So far this season, a playing squad lacking balance and depth, accusations that he is betraying United’s heritage of attacking football, and an ignominious exit from the group stage of the Champions League.

United dropped into the oft-maligned Europa League after losing 3-2 at VfL Wolfsburg in their final Group ‘B’ fixture on Tuesday and the manager was once again flayed by former players for his team’s limp performance.

Wolfsburg made club history by reaching the knock-out stages as Group ‘B’ winners with PSV Eindhoven’s 2-1 win at home to CSKA Moscow allowed the Dutch to claim second place at United’s expense.

The Red Devils suffered a repeat of their 2011/12 European campaign when defeat in their final group game at FC Basel also denied them a place in the last 16.

“At the moment I cannot defend myself because we are out of the Champions League,” Van Gaal told a post-match news conference.

Having scored just one goal in drawing their last three games, United needed just ten minutes to take the lead at Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena.

Anthony Martial put United in front but centre back Naldo equalised and Wolfsburg took the lead before half-time through midfielder Vieirinha, who finished off a slick passing move with a tap in.

United clawed their way back thanks to Josuha Guilavogui’s late own goal seconds before Naldo claimed his second by heading the winner.

“It was a crazy match,” said Van Gaal. “We twice gave away goals within two minutes after we had scored, that was difficult to understand.”

In the Netherlands, it had looked for a short time as if CSKA could spare United’s blushes when Sergey Ignashevich converted a 76th-minute penalty to put CSKA 1-0 up against PSV.

But PSV hit back just two minutes later through Luuk de Jong and completed the turnaround with five minutes to play as Davy Propper’s low shot saw them finish with 10 points, two behind Wolfsburg and two more than United, and become the

first Dutch club to reach the knockout stage since they last achieved the feat in 2007.

“The players went to the brink. They showed how strong they are all mentally. This is what you work for, these precious moments you must treasure,” PSV coach Philip Cocu said.

RONALDO BREAKS SCORING RECORD

Perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t aware that Real Madrid’s match against Malmo was mostly meaningless. More likely, he just didn’t care — especially with a record in reach.

Whatever the case, Ronaldo smashed his own pool stage scoring record as he netted four times in a crushing 8-0 victory for Real in Group ‘A’.

The Portuguese star’s tally of 11 goals in this season’s group campaign surpassed the previous mark of nine set by himself in 2013/14 and Luiz Adriano for Shakhtar Donetsk last season.

Troubled French striker Karim Benzema also scored his first hat-trick for five years, while Mateo Kovacic added his first goal for the Spanish giants.

“Five victories in a row, we are on a good run and need to continue like this,” said Ronaldo. “On a personal level, I am happy for another record.”

Real had already secured first place in Group ‘A’, finishing three points in front of Paris St Germain who eased to a 2-0 victory at home to Shakhtar Donetsk with second-half goals from Lucas and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Parc des Princes.

Manchester City wrested away top spot from Juventus in Group ‘D’ as Manuel Pellegrini’s side claimed a thrilling 4-2 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach, while last year’s finalists succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Sevilla.

David Silva had given City a 16th-minute lead at the Etihad Stadium but Julian Korb levelled three minutes later before Raffael turned home before the break to put the Germans ahead.

However, two quick-fire goals from England international Raheem Sterling put City back on track with Wilfried Bony sealing the win.

“It’s brilliant [to top the group[, we worked hard, we deserve it. The most important thing was trying to avoid the big teams and getting a fair draw, “said Sterling.

In Seville, Fernando Llorente’s 65th-minute goal guided the Spaniards past Juve and enabled them to pip Gladbach into third, ensuring Unai Emery’s men will have a chance to land a third consecutive Europa League crown.

Luciano Vietto scored one goal and set up another as Atletico Madrid won Group ‘C’ by beating Benfica 2-1 to leapfrog the Portuguese hosts, who took second.

Galatasaray denied Astana a famous first group stage win and the chance to continue their continental adventure in the Europa League as Selcuk Inan cancelled out Patrick Twumasi’s opener in a 1-1 draw in Turkey.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2015