If you’re not lucky enough to wake up outside of Manchester this morning, you’ll be forgiven for feeling the depressing darkness wash over you.

It will have come as little surprise to many to draw back the curtains on this grey Manchurian morning, only to be greeted by heavy showers and dark skies.

Manchester’s failure in Europe

When our two Manchester clubs started their Champions League campaigns, both club managers were filled with a hope of conquering Europe. But it was not to be, as both sides ended those aspirations prematurely and crashed out of Europe’s elite competition

And those failures were no more disappointing then for Manchester United fans, who were left with blushing faces to match their red playing shirts as they exited out of the Champions League last night to FC Basel.

The Reds started the season full of their usual ambition that walked hand in hand with the Manchester United’s historical success. But a recent slump, including a 6-1 drumming to their derby rivals, has seen United step onto the unfamiliar territory of failure.

Like their Manchester counterparts, City started the season in similar style, yet they too fell short of the last sixteen despite their win against Bayern Munich.

But for Ferguson there was particular embarrassment for the failure to qualify from a group that the Scotsman could have handpicked himself.

City though had a much tougher group and the expectations for the blue side of Manchester were far less. And thus, Mancini’s debuted City flop goes somewhat under the radar.

Roberto Mancini’s extensive rebuilding of Manchester City will enviably take time to bed in and though many will expect an instant success from such a colossal spend, football simply does work that way. And given that City found themselves in a really challenging group in Bayern, Napoli and Villareal, the Italian can be forgiven for his halter in European progression.

But in a group with Benfica, Basel and Romanians Otelul Galati, finishing second would have come as a disappointment for a well-educated Manchester United team from the outlay. Who would have gone as far too even bet against qualification for a Manchester United team that has not failed to qualify for the last 16 since 2005? Exiting from a group along with Otelul Galati for a team like Manchester United is more than an embarrassment, it’s a professional tragedy.

United only wins came over the Romanian club. Drawing twice with Benfica and being reduced to a point in the final moments at Old Trafford were disappointing results that could have been salvaged last night with a single point. But last night showed how the mighty have fallen, with a more frequently apologetic Ferguson, English football looks certain to fall into a state of flux.

Let’s not blow things out of proportion though. Manchester United can still rule domestically in a Premier League that is increasingly becoming a majorly talented league. However, things have to change.

Now they find themselves in the Europa League, Patrice Evra said exactly what was on the minds of many. The French left back told the media; ‘It’s an embarrassment to play in the Europa League.’

An embarrassment it might be for the Premier League champions, but reality it has become and if Fergie wants to salvage some silverware this season he will need to be ready to compete. Whether he decides to make a run for the Europe’s plastic cup remains to be seen. Except, plastic might be as good as it gets when it comes to venturing beyond the domestic silverware.

It feels like a different decade almost when Manchester United reached the final last year to battle against Barcelona.

For Manchester City it’s a little different though. With money comes depth and whilst their full attentions will remain on the Premier League, flexing some of their reserve muscle will be more than enough potency to stomp over Europa contenders.

Whilst this all remains speculative, what has become clear is that over the last 24 hours the value of the Europa League has shot through Europe’s terracotta roof. As bigger disappointment as it might seem, chance at a trophy is better than no chance at all and in order to make light of a bad situation both Manchester clubs will need to find a new focus. Otherwise, this overwhelming shame could cost them two trophies, not one….