Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady admits qualification through to the UEFA Cup will now be a "decent" outcome to their Champions League campaign after the Scottish champions went down 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Dimitar Berbatov scored a goal in each half - both of which had an element of offside to them - while Wayne Rooney got on the scoresheet with his ninth goal in seven games.
The win leaves United on seven points at the top of the group with Celtic struggling with just one point alongside Danish side Aalborg, who lost 6-3 at Villarreal.
The Republic of Ireland star accepts that qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League may be out of their reach.
McGeady said: "The last 16 was always going to be tough with Villarreal and Manchester United in the group.
"The expectation levels have increased and there is the goal to get through but it is going to be very, very tough and the UEFA Cup would be decent.
"Obviously we are disappointed to get beaten 3-0 but to be fair they played really well.
"The result was a fair reflection because they gave us a bit of a doing to be honest with you."
Manager Gordon Strachan admits his side were simply outclassed and pinpointed Rooney as one of United's top players.
"He's unplayable," Strachan said. "We tried everything but we have to put our hands up and say he's a world-class player.
"He's there with possibly another two world-class players and eight more international-class players.
"To get two (offside) decisions like that was a blow. Two years ago they got a penalty which wasn't and when you come here you need to get breaks.
"I said to the players at the end of the game we can't be faulted for guts or determination but we're nowhere near as good as them passing the ball.
"We're still building in terms of the personnel we need to come here.
"I felt we had got over our real problems in the first 15 minutes, then they got a goal from a set play.
"There's not a problem with determination. I tried to put out a side where everyone could pass the ball but that didn't work.
"We tried to compete but that's one of the best performances I've ever come across.
"We'll keep playing away when we play them again (in two weeks) but it's going to be very hard.
"We want a good performance. We want to give our fans a good game at home."
The win leaves United on seven points at the top of the group with Celtic struggling with just one point alongside Danish side Aalborg, who lost 6-3 at Villarreal.
The Republic of Ireland star accepts that qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League may be out of their reach.
McGeady said: "The last 16 was always going to be tough with Villarreal and Manchester United in the group.
"The expectation levels have increased and there is the goal to get through but it is going to be very, very tough and the UEFA Cup would be decent.
"Obviously we are disappointed to get beaten 3-0 but to be fair they played really well.
"The result was a fair reflection because they gave us a bit of a doing to be honest with you."
Manager Gordon Strachan admits his side were simply outclassed and pinpointed Rooney as one of United's top players.
"He's unplayable," Strachan said. "We tried everything but we have to put our hands up and say he's a world-class player.
"He's there with possibly another two world-class players and eight more international-class players.
"To get two (offside) decisions like that was a blow. Two years ago they got a penalty which wasn't and when you come here you need to get breaks.
"I said to the players at the end of the game we can't be faulted for guts or determination but we're nowhere near as good as them passing the ball.
"We're still building in terms of the personnel we need to come here.
"I felt we had got over our real problems in the first 15 minutes, then they got a goal from a set play.
"There's not a problem with determination. I tried to put out a side where everyone could pass the ball but that didn't work.
"We tried to compete but that's one of the best performances I've ever come across.
"We'll keep playing away when we play them again (in two weeks) but it's going to be very hard.
"We want a good performance. We want to give our fans a good game at home."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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