Michael Owen slams his former club Manchester United and insists that their Champions League exit is the latest in 18 months of "below par" under Louis van Gaal.

Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has heavily criticised the club after their Champions League exit, insisting that the latest failing is symptomatic of a sub-standard 18 months.

United lost 3-2 at Wolfsburg on Tuesday night to crash out of the Champions League at the group stage and leave them with only the Premier League and the FA Cup to play for during the remainder of the season.

Owen insists that it is not just that result or this season's poor form which is a worrying sign for the club, but the fact that the Red Devils have been "below par" for the entirety of Louis van Gaal's time in charge.

"I do not look at it and just think of tonight or this season, I look at the 18 months or so that Louis van Gaal has been in charge and the £250m plus that he has spent," Owen told BT Sport. "They were not in Europe last season so they had all the focus on the Premier League and the cup, but they got stuffed 4-0 by MK Dons and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal.

"They scrambled into fourth - Man United and you are happy with fourth in the league? - and this season they have been knocked out by Middlesbrough in the League Cup, they have been knocked out of an easy group in the Champions League, and they are playing poorly week-in week-out.

"It is 18 months of below-par, with all that money. I think [Louis van Gaal] is under severe pressure now. This is a worse squad now. The players that Van Gaal has let go in the last 18 months would beat tonight's team: Rafael, Evans, Evra, Nani, Kagawa, RVP, Nani, Chicarito, Januzaj, Welbeck. [Only] Smalling and Carrick would get in."

United are fourth in the Premier League but without a win in four matches in all competitions.