Two Manchester United players created more Champions League chances than Mesut Ozil

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Small consolation for Manchester United fans…

So what went wrong at Manchester United in the Champions League this season?

Their insipid home form was a clue, with the 0-0 draw at home to PSV costly. In fact United scored only seven goals in six games – an amount Real Madrid exceeded in just one with an 8-0 victory over Malmo.

Yet was this down to a lack of creativity, or a cutting edge?

Figures from the Champions League group stages show two Manchester United players created more chances than Arsenal ‘assist king’ Mesut Ozil, who had a difficult competition by his standards.

These were Juan Mata, who was surprisingly substituted late on against Wolfsburg for Nick Powell, and utility man Daley Blind, who created 26 chances between them.

United as a team even fashioned 11 more chances than Arsenal, who did qualify for the knockout stages via their group, but the Gunners scored five more goals.

What all of this goes to underline is that United were undone by what supporters feared in the summer, the lack of a top quality striker.

Anthony Martial has been more than useful, but he should not be confused yet with a forward the calibre of a Robert Lewandowski.

Selling Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez and signing just one teenager to replace him was a gamble, even if Wayne Rooney had found form.

The England international’s form was poor, as it has been in the Premier League, and their limitations up front meant ultimately the Europa League beckons.