Manchester United miss chance to top group after Spanish lesson at Valencia

Manchester United are through to the next round of the Champions League, but then everyone knew that already. They are also not very good, but then everyone knew that too. Switzerland’s Young Boys defeated Juventus 2-1 to gift United the chance to overhaul them and take first place, but they did not accept it. Instead, they were beaten by Valencia at Mestalla, limping into the last 16. On this evidence, and all that has accumulated this season, it is hard to imagine them getting further than that; the surprise may be that they got this far.

It was striking enough that United had already secured a place in the knock-out phase given how poorly they have played in this competition; actually winning the group would have been too much. Yet that, unexpectedly, was a possibility. “I don’t think this result will be too important or make the difference,” Mourinho had admitted before this game, while Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool – currently 16 points ahead of United – was always going to be more significant. Perhaps that lack of expectation helps justify this performance, although for so much of the night the explanation appeared rooted in something more simple, their play.

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