The last time Manchester United played in the second round of the League Cup, they were humiliated by MK Dons.
Louis van Gaal took the Red Devils to Milton Keynes in August 2014 to play MK Dons in the second round of the League Cup.
United suffered a humiliating 4-0 loss, making it a terrible night for them.
Will Grigg and Benik Afobe each scored a brace to complete a historic triumph, but a youthful Dele Alli made an impression for the Dons.
Speaking at the time, Van Gaal said: “Of course I’m disappointed, but I can analyse this.
“I am not shocked because I know what can happen, and I think also that Milton Keynes played very well, very aggressively, and they had also a little bit of luck.”
Despite being included in the starting lineup, players like Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans, Anderson, and David De Gea did not motivate the Red Devils.
David De Gea, Marnick Vermijl, Jonny Evans, Michael Keane, Reece James, Saidy Janko, Anderson, Shinji Kagawa, Nick Powell, Danny Welbeck, and Javier Hernandez are the starting lineup for United against MK Dons.
After that night in Milton Keynes, none of the players from the starting lineup—Reece James, Marnick Vermijl, Michael Keane, Saidy Janko, Shinji Kagawa, and Javier Hernandez—played another minute for United.
James played in League One and the Championship before joining Rotherham.
After playing in the Netherlands in recent years, the 33-year-old Vermijl joined the Belgian team Bocholt.
Defender Keane, who is currently back at Everton with former United manager David Moyes, is still active in the Premier League.
Gambian international full-back After playing for teams like Nottingham Forest, Celtic, and Saint-Etienne, Janko joined Young Boys in 2023.
Kagawa played for Besiktas, Real Zaragoza, PAOK, and Sint-Truiden after leaving United to return to Borussia Dortmund. In 2023, he joined Cerezo Osaka.
Following stints with Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla, and LA Galaxy, Mexican attacker Hernandez is back at his boyhood club, Guadalajara.
Before joining Fiorentina last summer, De Gea became a legend in the club.
Evans, a defender, retired in the summer of 2025 after spending time away from Old Trafford before returning in 2023.
Anderson, a Brazilian midfielder, played in Turkey after leaving United for Internacional in 2015 and ending his career in 2020.
Prior to his permanent departure in 2016, Powell, who was highly regarded at United, played for Wigan, Leicester, and Hull. He’s with Bradford City presently.
Finally, Welbeck remains Brighton’s top striker and is still performing well in the Premier League.
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