Manchester United players 'cancel Christmas party' after Champions League failure

The team were due to go out on Sunday

Anthony Martial, Bastian Schweinstieger and Chris Smalling (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United players have cancelled their Christmas party after the side's embarrassing Champions League exit, according to reports.

The players had planned to go out on Sunday night but decided to call off the festive celebrations after defeat at Wolfsburg saw them crash out of Europe's premier cup competition and fall into the Europa League.

According to the Daily Mail, club captain Wayne Rooney and other senior players made the decision amongst themselves because they did not want to be pictured jovial during a tough time for the club.

Louis van Gaal is not believed to have pressured the players into making their decision.

United are in the midst of a difficult run that has seen them fail to win any of their last four matches, while their last six matches at Old Trafford have brought just three goals.

They next face Bournemouth away on Saturday evening before hosting Norwich City next week.

Reports emerged on Thursday that Van Gaal's job is under pressure if he can't sustain a real title challenge and finish inside the top three this season.

Rooney sang at last year's Christmas party (Wayne Rooney/Instagram)

The Independent revealed on Wednesday night that the Old Trafford hierarchy actually view the Premier League as more of a priority than the Champions League, even before they crashed out at the group stage.

The players and staff also held a more formal Christmas dinner on 5 November at the Place Aparthotel.

Last year's Christmas party saw Wayne Rooney take to the stage to sing.