Where are they now? The Manchester United XI that lost 5-4 to Chelsea

There is nothing we love more here at Shoot! than a bit of football trivia, that otherwise meaningless information that, come quiz night, suddenly becomes invaluable.

One goldmine of such facts is the archives of teams gone by, whether that be an iconic XI, or a squad of predicted future heroes. As the years go on, however, such sides are confined to the history books, but wouldn’t you love to know where they are now?

On Sunday, Chelsea host Manchester United to wrap up this weekend’s Premier League action. This will be the first time Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge after being sacked by the Blues last December.

A win for either side is expected to launch them into the top-flight’s top four.

So; ahead of this Sunday’s clash, Shoot! look back at Manchester United’s 5-4 defeat to Chelsea during their Capital One Cup fourth round thriller at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2012, and ask ‘Where are they now?’…

Anders Lindegaard

Now established in the second-tier of English football, Lindegaard departed Old Trafford in August 2015 after making just 29 first-team appearances for United after arriving from Aalesund back in November 2010.

However, his first stop after The Theatre of Dreams was fellow Premier League outfit West Brom, where he featured just once for the Baggies during the 2015/16 campaign.

After a loan spell at Preston North End in the same season, the Denmark international opted to seal a permanent future with the Championship club after mutually agreeing his exit from West Brom this summer.

Rafael Da Silva

The right-back is now starring in Ligue 1 for Lyon, having joined the French club on a four-year deal last summer.

The 26-year-old full-back racked up 170 appearances for the Red Devils, netting five goals, after arriving at Old Trafford from Fluminense back in January 2008.

And in case you are wondering; Rafael’s twin brother, Fabio, is still in the Premier League with newly promoted Middlesbrough.

Alexander Buttner

This Capital One Cup defeat to Chelsea was just one of 28 appearances for Netherlands defender Buttner, having arrived at United from Vitesse in 2012.

After penning a five-year deal with the Red Devils, the left-back’s United career came to an end less than 24 months later, sealing a £4.4m switch to Dynamo Moscow.

Despite being loaned out to Anderlecht during the latter stages of last season, Buttner is still with Dynamo in Russia.

Scott Wootton

Having started his youth career at rivals Liverpool, before refusing a contract with the Reds to opt for the Red Devils in 2007, Wootton unfortunately didn’t push on and make the most of his chance at The Theatre of Dreams.

The 25-year-old, who was loaned out to Tranmere Rovers, Peterborough United and Nottingham Forest during his United spell, only went on to feature four times for the first-team.

Nowadays, he is plying his trade in League One with Milton Keynes Dons following their relegation from the Championship last term.

Michael Keane

One that got away from United’s grasp.

Brought through the Red Devils’ youth system, Keane managed just five first-team appearances for the Premier League giants, between loan spells at the likes of Leicester City, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers.

However; after seemingly failing to make the grade at Old Trafford, United sold the centre-half to newly promoted Burnley, where he has since shone at Turf Moor, racking up 77 appearances and six goals to his name.

Furthermore, Keane’s superb league form in the Premier League this term earned him his first senior call-up to the England squad earlier this month.

Anderson

Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira, better known as just ‘Anderson’, left Old Trafford for his native Brazil last year with Internacional after more than 180 games under his belt for the Red Devils.

Signing a five-year contract following his £20m switch from FC Porto back in the summer of 2007, the midfielder’s first-team chances gradually evaporated each season, before being loaned out to Serie A side Fiorentina in 2014.

Ryan Giggs

A true legend. I think we all know what happened to the Welsh wizard after this fixture… He just kept producing brilliance!

One-club loyalty is rare in football these days, but Giggs will forever be remembered as a Manchester United great after winning an astonishing 34 trophies during his record-breaking 963 appearances for the club.

Giggs is one of the most decorated players in football club history – winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns and four FA Cup titles among much more silverware with United.

Nani

A player who Red Devil fans pinned their hopes and dreams upon after Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit to Real Madrid in 2009, but his fellow countryman, Nani, didn’t quite live up to expectations unfortunately.

The 29-year-old, who starred for European Championship winners Portugal this summer in France, scored 40 goals in 230 games for Manchester United having arrived from Sporting Lisbon back in 2007.

After a loan spell at his former club during the 2014/15 campaign, the winger joined Fenerbahce on a three-year deal last summer, before opting for La Liga side Valencia this term following his impressive Euro 2016 campaign.

Darren Fletcher

Still plying his trade in the Premier League, Fletcher can be found at West Brom, where he joined the Baggies on a free transfer last February.

The Scotland international, who is captain of the Hawthorns outfit, racked up an impressive 338 appearances for the Red Devils.

Javier Hernandez

A firm favourite at Old Trafford, ‘Chicharito’ always gave his all in a Red Devils shirt, but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough to sustain his United career.

The Mexico striker netted 59 times for the Premier League side after arriving from Guadalajara back in 2010 under the guidance of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

However; once the famous Scot retired, Hernandez’s first-team chances at The Theatre of Dreams became few and far between, before being loaned out to Real Madrid during the 2014/15 season.

Then, last summer, under Louis van Gaal, the menacing forward sealed a permanent exit from Old Trafford, agreeing to join Bayer Leverkusen, where he has since scored a remarkable 33 goals in 50 games for the Bundesliga outfit.

Danny Welbeck

Somewhat of a surprise sale in 2014, Welbeck’s frustration of being played out on the wing at United became all too much for the highly-rated forward, meaning he wanted out of Old Trafford and eventually joined Arsenal for £16m on deadline day (September).

Many fans were livid with then manager Louis van Gaal for allowing the youngster to depart, having come through the youth ranks and shown glimpses of brilliance in his 29 goals for the Red Devils.

However, the Gunners offered him the opportunity to feature more up front, rather than on the wing.

Welbeck currently has 13 goals in 49 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side, though injury has certainly hindered his Arsenal career to date.