Man United tailspin continues with early exit from Champions League

All the help in the world couldn't conspire to get Manchester United through.

For the third time in five years, the UEFA Champions League will proceed without United after the holidays. A 3-2 loss at Wolfsburg on Tuesday ensured that the Red Devils would miss out on the knockout stages yet again, a latest humiliation for the club caught in decline since the retirement of manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013.

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Going into the final day of group stage play, they only needed to outperform or match the result of PSV Eindhoven, who were hosting last-place CSKA Moscow. As United were behind deep in the second half, CSKA took a lead, apparently saving the Mancunians' bacon. PSV equalized two minutes later. But the footballing fates seemed to smile at United yet again as Wolfsburg scored an own goal, positioning the Red Devils to advance again. But just as quickly, any remaining illusions were dashed when Wolfsburg went ahead in the 84th minute and PSV did the same in the 85th.

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So in United's stead, Wolfsburg and PSV advanced. And while they are worthy teams, they are hardly the European powers United once were, reaching the Champions League final three times in four years from 2008 through 2011.

Just three minutes in, United nearly went behind. Andre Schurrle sliced his volley well high on Max Kruse's knock-on header. It was a sign of things to come, with Wolfsburg refusing to put the bulk of their chances away and finish United off once and for all.

And then, in the 10th minute, Anthony Martial finally got another goal, a relief both to himself and his team, which had scored just once in its last three games. He finished coolly on Juan Mata's splendid through ball.

It proved a false spring for United. For three minutes, they looked like advancing might not be so difficult after all, in spite of winning just two of their five games in a most manageable group. But then Ricardo Rodriguez swung in a long free kick for Wolfsburg and Naldo, a central defender, volleyed the ball directly past David De Gea to equalize.

Before the half hour, Julian Draxler – the one-time prodigy whose career had stalled at Schalke and who was sold to Wolfsburg to replace Kevin De Bruyne and revive his career – came inside with the ball. He combined with Kruse on a deft give-and-go and then cut the ball back for Vieirinha, who had a simple tap-in.

Had it not been for De Gea, United may in fact have been routed. He made several fancy saves to keep his side alive. At the other end, Diego Benaglio saved well on Depay's bicycle kick and the assistant referee called off an apparent Jesse Lingard goal, when his cross went untouched and skipped in at the far post just before halftime. Mata, who didn't touch the ball, was deemed to have affected the play from an offside position.

In the 82nd minute, Marouane Fellaini got his head on a United corner and Josuha Guilavogui headed it over his own goalkeeper, seemingly sending United through again.

But then, just two minutes later, Naldo struck again. Michael Carrick lost him on a corner and Daley Blind's chest couldn't prevent the against-the-grain header from going over the line.

When Davey Propper put PSV ahead in Eindhoven as well, it was all finally over for United despite a late push. The Red Devils crashed out of Europe in fairly fetid fashion.

Going into Tuesday night, United had conceded just three goals in their last 10 games. And they hadn't conceded more than once since Oct. 4. Wolfsburg could have gotten a half dozen had they been a tad more efficient, or De Gea less sharp.

Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Louis van Gaal's men have slipped from first place on Sept. 26, after seven games, to fourth. If the outlook for the rest of the season was cloudy going into Tuesday, it's now looking like severe weather alerts will be called at Old Trafford in short order.

Certainly, United is dealing with a flurry of injuries. But they have now won just four of their last 12 games since the start of October. This swoon long predates the injury issues.

Just a few months ago, many wondered openly if Van Gaal would put off his retirement and extend his United contract, which expires after the 2016-17 season. He had seemingly restored the fallen giant to its former glory.

Now, as the days have grown short, so has the patience with the Dutchman, his dour playing style and acute lack of results. United's tailspin has yet to be halted.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.