Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Manchester United are bored in the Premiership and this is resulting in a lack of sharpness in would be a different package in the UEFA Champions League if they were used to the same levels of effort on a more regular basis.
"It's possible that the edge has been taken off our play because we are in such a comfort zone in the league. It is a concern for us but awareness of that is a key factor in remedying it."
Ferguson was moved to issue a rare public criticism of his side after the Red Devils required Paul Scholes' 90th minute strike to draw level in their away clash in Athens when the home side wasted a host of golden opportunities.
The England midfielder was one of few to escape the wrath of the United boss.
"Fabien Barthez was a pass-mark - he was magnificent - Roy Keane to a degree, Scholes to a degree and Phil Neville did okay," Ferguson said.
"The rest wouldn't even get pass-marks. It was a bad performance and there's no hiding from that. We have to analyse it. The quality of passing was bad and so was our concentration at times. It was one of those games that we would rather forget. We certainly don't want to repeat it."
United's campaign in this season's Champion's League is a far cry from the Treble-winning season of 1999.
When United lifted the European Cup in 1999, they were involved in FA Cup and Premiership games right up to the end of the season, which stoked United's ability to play with the determined manner which brought their match-winning comeback at the Nou Camp against Bayern Munich.
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