Steve McManaman believes Manchester United have become too predictable to be a success in Europe.
The England midfielder backed Old Trafford skipper Roy Keane's bleak assessment of United's unconvincing Champions League campaign and thinks they lacked a game-plan to repeat their 1999 title-winning season.
McManaman even insisted his Real Madrid team-mates would rather have faced United in the semi-finals as it would have been an easier match than against Bayern Munich, who beat Sir Alex Ferguson's men in the last eight.
"When you look at United's results in Europe all season, then you could say as soon as they came up against a decent side they would struggle," said the former Liverpool star.
"They won only one away from home in Europe all season and just scraped through the two group stages, so it clearly wasn't very comfortable forthem.
"I know most of the lads at Madrid wanted United in the semi because they felt it would be the easier tie.
"United have suffered this season because they haven't really sorted out a proper game-plan in Europe.
"They seem to have been shaken by their defeat by us in the quarter-finals last year and I think they were almost taking stock this season, wondering which direction to go."
McManaman told The Mirror: "It was good to hear Roy Keane saying that United have to try and copy Real Madrid because we are the teamothers have to try and match.
"I think what he is saying is that in Europe we have been capable of doing something different, finding a bit of extra spark when it is needed - andUnited have to follow that.
"We've the likes of Figo and Raul, who are excellent at that, whereas United maybe became a little too predictable this season and that's wherethey were found out.
"I think the signing of (Ruud) van Nistelrooy shows that they know they have to do something a bit different."
-PA