Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has blamed injuries after his side were sent crashing out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils had gone into the game knowing they faced a huge task to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
But United were flat and insipid as they slumped to defeat, with Kingsley Coman netting the only goal of the game.
The result means Ten Hag's side are now out of Europe altogether, having also failed to qualify for the Europa League.
Man Utd news: Kingsley Coman scored the only goal of the game as Bayern Munich claimed all three points at Old Trafford
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And the 53-year-old has blamed injuries for the plight of his side, though did admit United must still perform better than they have done over the course of the campaign so far.
“I think it's not only about talking about that campaign, then you come to the same things," he said when asked what he'd do differently.
"So, why did this happen? I would say it's a symbol today, we have to make subs, and we're losing players, and we're losing also players who are very decisive for our game who can make the difference.
"I think it was, in many games, also the case in this campaign that we’ve not always had the players available we want to play.
"And that's definitely a part but now I give you a reason but don’t see it as an excuse.
"Because even when we are not all on board, we still have to win because that is the targets that belong to Manchester United.”
Ten Hag also feels the Red Devils squandered too many leads to go through.
They led in big matches against Galatasaray and Copenhagen earlier in the group stages.
But United could never hang on and now, after being eliminated, they've paid the ultimate price.
Ten Hag added: “So, I look to my team and, yeah, we had opportunities in games and we were in winning positions.
"I think we scored many goals.
"But then also, we have to see we gave it away sometimes by individual errors, but by not one player, but by more players and not every time the same.
"So, we gave the opponent opportunities to return.
"But if you assess that, also we had very good spells in such games but we have to do better.
"And the facts are we have not enough points.
"So, that is of course disappointing. We are disappointed as a group, and as a manager I’m disappointed. We should have done better.”
United's season wasn't meant to go this way.
They spent big in the summer with the club hopeful they could challenge for the biggest trophies on offer.
However, the Red Devils have now been dumped out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup at the first hurdle.
As a result, a season that promised so much now faces being a damp squib.
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Yet Ten Hag says United still have plenty to play for, despite their shambolic results so far.
“There's still many things to play for," continued the former Ajax boss.
"And now we can focus, of course, on the Premier League and this is the level we want to play, Champions League.
"So, we have to give every effort in to be in the top four so, next year, we are back in the Champions League and then, of course, the FA Cup [starts in January].
"So, there’s still many things to play for.”