Money can't buy you happiness, the saying goes, but you can bet the Glazer family's bottom dollar that Manchester United expected their billions of pounds to buy them a spot in the Champions League last 16. Instead, the Red Devils' US owners will have realised that, for the third time in five seasons, the club will fail to be among the European elite in the new year.
Wolfsburg's exhilarating 3-2 victory had United on their knees at the Volkswagen Arena before PSV dealt the fatal blow with a 2-1 triumph at home to CSKA Moscow. Three months ago, you would have been mocked for predicting a Reds Devils side who spent £115 million (€160m) on transfer fees in the summer wouldn't be able to finish in the top two of Group B.
However, for all the furore regarding United's mistakes, the incredible achievements of PSV and Wolfsburg are more deserving of attention. These are two football teams whose expenditure is dwarfed by the third-richest club in the world - valued by Forbes at $3.1 billion (£2bn) earlier in 2015. A superpower with World Cup winners and Champions League conquerors earning a cumulative salary that would make most people's eyes water.
Wolfsburg had never before beaten Manchester United and came into the group as fourth seeds who had just seen their star player, Kevin De Bruyne, poached by Manchester City for £55m (€76m). De Bruyne was extraordinary last season and pivotal in their second-place Bundesliga finish - setting an all-time league record for assists. They signed Schalke star Julian Draxler for €35m (£25m) to fill the Belgian's creative void, but nobody expected them to topple the Red Devils.
Everyone loves a plucky underdog, and neutrals were no doubt also rooting for PSV on matchday six. Despite being top seeds due to their status as Dutch champions, Phillip Cocu's players were not expected to buck a trend which had seen nine years pass since an Eredivisie side qualified for the knockouts. Wins in both of their first two home games and an unexpected stalemate at Old Trafford two weeks ago gave them a phenomenal chance, however – win and they were into the last 16.
When CSKA Moscow took the lead with 14 minutes left on the clock it looked like the Eredivisie's miserable record would continue. But a roaring comeback clinched a dramatic 2-1 win and a place in the next round.
When you consider that PSV's star player in 2014-15, Memphis Depay, was bought for £28m (€38.6m) by the very team they knocked out, it's an incredible feat. They also sold captain Georginio Wijnaldum and a handful of other players in the build-up to this campaign for an estimated total of £46m (€63.4m). Only £16m (€22m) of this was reinvested in new arrivals - 13 per cent of United's outlay.
This wasn't an unfortunate elimination for United either – they deserved everything they got. On Saturday, Louis van Gaal admitted: "I don't think we are able to win the Champions League now, maybe next year when we strengthen."
Questions will now be asked of the Dutchman's failure and whether such comments were ever going to inspire a team already being booed by their own fans at Old Trafford.
Ex-Manchester United players queued up to pillory their former club as Wolfsburg celebrated their win. Rio Ferdinand sighed: "When you consider the amount of money they've spent and you have to go to the last game to get a result...." Paul Scholes blasted: "They've not bought as well as they could've done." Meanwhile, Michael Owen questioned "whether the club can rely on Van Gaal to spend those millions" in January.
It is a damning indictment on Van Gaal and United that no other European heavyweights on Tuesday exited the Champions League: Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Man City, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Benfica had all long since qualified.
But it was also refreshing that at least one of the billionaire clubs could still be challenged by more modest outfits. The excitement raised by Wolfsburg and PSV's shock elimination of United is what makes the Champions League such a fantastic competition.
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