Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez has said that he was surprised to see Manchester United eliminated from the Champions League earlier this season.
Martinez, who will travel to Old Trafford to face Sir Alex Ferguson's side in the Europa League tonight, admits that it's strange to see the Red Devils out of the competition at this point in the season.
"I was [surprised]," he told Goal.com. "You can't imagine a club of the calibre of Manchester United not getting through the group stages.
"This is a club that aspires to be there until the end, to be in the final or the semi-finals.
"It's strange to see that they didn't get through this year."
The Spaniard, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in the past, is also understood to be of interest to Barcelona.
