Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man Utd star: Title hopes ruined after joining Liverpool and Tottenham in Europa League
MAROUANE FELLAINI has cast doubt over Manchester United's chances in the Premier League title race due to their participation in the Europa League.
Marouane Fellaini fears domestic form will dip with Europa League fixtures
Louis van Gaal's men suffered an early exit from the Champions League last night when they lost 3-2 at Wolfsburg.
United were expected to walk Group B, but instead they finished third and Van Gaal now faces the embarrassment of leading United in the Europa League instead.
Many teams struggle to deal with the challenge of playing on Thursdays and then on a Sunday, which United have done just once in the last 19 years.
And Fellaini believes United's title hopes are now in jeopardy having joined Liverpool and Tottenham in Europe's second-tier club competition.
Louis van Gaal dropped out of the Champions League last night
Naldo scored twice as Wolfsburg beat Manchester United
When asked whether playing in the Europa League was likely to affect United's league form, the Belgian said: "Yes, because when you play Thursday it is closer to the weekend, so it will be tough.
"But we are there now, in the Europa League, so we have to go there and try to win. It's always difficult, everyone wants to be in the Champions League."