Fergie: United must find extra gear in Europe

Alex Ferguson has demanded that his Manchester United players “waken” from their slumbers against Athletic Bilbao tonight in order to protect their European status.

For so many years United have used their form at Old Trafford as the basis to launch deep inroads into the Champions League. This term has been very different, however.

Ferguson accepts his side never recovered from tossing away a two-goal lead against Swiss outfit FC Basel on match day two, a further home draw with Benfica helping to condemn them to a group stage exit for the first time since 2005.