Former Manchester United midfielder Robbie Savage has claimed that the Red Devils have become "such a laughing stock" that he 'feels sorry for Louis van Gaal'.
A disappointing 2015-16 campaign to date has seen the Premier League club exit the Champions League in the groups stages, in addition to struggling to challenge for a top-four place in the league.
The club hit a new low on Thursday, however, when they were beaten 2-1 at FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their last-32 clash in the Europa League.
Ahead of Monday's FA Cup fifth-round clash at Shrewsbury Town, player-turned-pundit Savage has claimed that his former club are now worse off than they were under David Moyes, who struggled after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
"United are becoming such a laughing stock that I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Van Gaal," the Welshman wrote on his column for The Mirror.
"But I have to ask: If he was a British manager, instead of imported continental expertise who has spent £250m on players – and only one of them, Anthony Martial, has looked any good – would LVG still be in a job?
"At least David Moyes took United to a Champions League quarter-final. If the board at Old Trafford can't see United are on the road to nowhere under Van Gaal, I shudder to think what they are looking at."
Man United's next Premier League match is against title challengers Arsenal next weekend, but they will welcome Midtjylland for the second leg of their Europa League clash on Thursday.
Matt Law
