Evra embarrassed with Europa League

Manchester United defender Patrice Evra said he is embarrassed at being demoted to the Europa League.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side went into the final group game on Wednesday needing a point to secure qualification to the last 16 but their 2-1 loss in Basel meant they made an early Champions League exit.

Goals from Marco Streller and Alexander Frei sealed victory for the Swiss outfit as Phil Jones netted late on for last season’s beaten Champions League finalists.

Evra said United deserved to miss out after their performances in the group stage and is unhappy at the prospect of competing in the Europa League.

“I feel I will wake up tomorrow and we will have qualified. It feels like a dream,” Evra told reporters.

“But it is not a dream, it is the reality. We should have woken up earlier in this competition. We deserve to be out.”

“Even if it is a friendly, when I pull on a United shirt I do my best to win that trophy. But it is embarrassing to be in the Europa League.”

“I play for Manchester United to play in the Champions League but some players dream of playing for United in any competition and you have to respect that.”

United’s misery was further compounded by the injury to Nemanja Vidic, who could face up to four months out with medial knee ligament damage.