Manchester United only won one trophy in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season, but it’s the one that mattered. Indeed, the Premier League triumph may well have been more straightforward because of an early exit from the League Cup.
United were one point behind Roberto di Matteo’s Chelsea when the Blues eliminated them from the competition in the fourth round. By the time of the quarter-finals United were six points clear of Manchester City with Chelsea a further four adrift.
Ferguson’s team travelled to Stamford Bridge on Halloween 2012, Marcus Rashford’s 15th birthday and the day after Arsenal beat Reading 7-5. We’re not saying United’s selection that night contributed to them shipping five goals, but we’re not not saying that.
After three seasons at Elland Road, Wootton moved on to play for MK Dons, Plymouth, Wigan, Morecambe, and — where he currently makes his living — Australian A-League club Wellington Phoenix.
LB: Alexander Buttner (class of '46, Nick Powell)
Buttner scored on his United debut against Wigan Athletic in September 2012 while making his first away appearance for the team at Chelsea. He was another veteran of the 5-5 draw with West Brom.
The Dutch defender eventually made his way back to Vitesse, the team from which he had left United in the first place, after punctuating the runs with a brief unsuccessful stay at Dynamo Moscow. Since then, he has played for RKC Waalwijk and the New England Revolution, and he currently represents Dutch second-tier team De Graafschap.
Buttner was changed out at half-time by Nick Powell, another debut scorer in that Wigan game. Powell later joined Wigan and is now turning out for Stoke City in the Championship.
RW: Nani
Nani’s 2012-13 season was mixed to say the least. His 11 games were enough to earn him a Premier League medal, but he only scored three times in all competitions – including in the 5-4 – and was handed just 195 minutes after being sent off in United’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.
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