Manchester United may be playing second fiddle, but what happened to the team that last played in UEFA Cup

‘Thursday nights, Channel 5’ is the last terrace chant you would expect to associate with Manchester United, but in recent months their supporters have become all too familiar with them.

After a shock exit from the Champions League, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side resume European competition in the Europa League for the first time in 17 years when they visit Ajax for their last 32 tie, as Ferguson bids to win the only trophy that eludes him.

Late drama: But United were knocked out despite Peter Schmeichel's goal

His last chance came in 1995, after United were placed into the UEFA Cup having finished the previous season as runners-up to Blackburn in the Premier League.

In the first round they were pitted against Rotor Volgograd. At the time, despite being high-flyers in Russia, they were expected to be easy pickings for Fergie’s team – especially after United drew the first leg away 0-0.

But with Eric Cantona serving his last game of a nine-month suspension for kicking a fan, the hosts crashed out on away goals at Old Trafford despite coming back from going 2-0 down after 23 minutes to grab a draw.

Here Sportsmail takes a look back at the players involved in United’s last showing in Europe’s secondary competition.

Peter Schmeichel

United’s legendary treble winning keeper was helpless for the two goals conceded, but strangely made his biggest impact at the other end of the field. The Danish stopper headed home a Ryan Giggs corner with a minute left to level the scores and it is perhaps the only memory United fans remember about their time in the UEFA Cup.

Phil Neville

Playing at full-back, it was Neville’s breakthrough season at Old Trafford but he still looked raw and was partly at fault for Rotor’s first goal through his naive positioning. He would improve throughout his Old Trafford career, becoming a handy utility player before leaving for Everton in 2005.

He scores goals: Paul Scholes on target for United in 1995

Steve Bruce

A horrible night for the 34-year-old who was in his final season of a nine-year spell at Old Trafford. Bruce seemed to struggle more than most with the fast attacking play of the Russian side, and was partly at fault for the second goal after making a hash of trying to control a David Beckham pass.

Gary Pallister

Alongside Bruce, United looked like they had a reliable experienced centre-back pairing but Pallister was another player caught out by pace.
The former England international left United in 1998 following a nine-year spell where he played over 400 games.

John O'Kane

The defender failed to make an impact in the game (he was sacrificed for Paul Scholes after 25 minutes) or during his Red Devils career – the 19-year-old had to wait 14 months after this tie before wearing the United shirt again. After going two years without a game, he was offloaded to Everton in 1998.

Didn't he become famous David Beckham is brushed off the ball against Rotor Volgograd

David Beckham

Back then, Becks was just another 20-year-old trying hard to cement a first-team spot and he looked it, playing a needlessly difficult pass for Bruce in the run-up to Rotor’s second goal. He would improve rapidly as the season progressed, but the pin-point set-pieces and halfway line goals were still to come.

Nicky Butt

Despite
having broken into the first-team the previous season, Butt was still a
rough diamond at 20-years-old. He had his moments in this tie, as he
was unlucky to see a header cleared off the line shortly after Rotor
took a 2-0 lead. The midfielder enjoyed a successful spell at the club
before leaving for Newcastle in 2004.

Roy Keane

Already
an integral part of United’s midfield but despite doing little wrong he
couldn’t prevent his side from an early UEFA Cup exit.
The Irishman would later have his star showing in Europe, his stellar
performance against Juventus in the 1999 Champions League semi-final
going down as one of the greatest of all time from a United player.

Young star: Lee Sharpe in action against Volgograd

Lee Sharpe

In his eighth year at the club, but despite going on to feature heavily in the double winning team that season, his future looked bleak. The emergence of Giggs and Beckham put his first-team spot under question and he was sold to Leeds the following summer.

Andy Cole

Cole had joined for a British transfer record worth 7million earlier in the year, and the striker was unlucky to see a 10-yard effort clatter off the post. But it was his shot that allowed Paul Scholes to tuck home the rebound that pulled a goal back. He would later play a crucial role in the 1999 treble winning side before leaving for Blackburn in 2001.

Ryan Giggs

Such is Giggs’ longevity that even 17 years ago he was a lethal weapon for United. Back then though his threat was as a pacey winger and he played a crucial role in setting up both of United’s goals. Even at 38, the Welshman is still playing an important role at Old Trafford but he will miss the trip to Ajax.

Subs
Paul Scholes

Came off the bench to tap home a rebound in the second-half, and in Giggs’ absence is the only member from the class of 1995 that travels to Ajax.

Terry Cooke

Replaced Beckham after 82 minutes but despite being one of Fergie’s more promising ‘fledglings’, he failed to break into the first team and was sold to Manchester City in 1999.