Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Serbia centre-back Nemanja Vidic were also on international duty in midweek.
Not only the English players but others like Ronaldo and Vidic were not so sharp.
Xavi then almost doubled Barcelona's lead with a 20-yard free-kick following Vidic's foul on Messi.
Villa wanted a penalty when Nemanja Vidic challenged Agbonlahor before Wayne Rooney miscued in front of goal.
Nemanja Vidic and Tevez both wasted good headed chances before Quartey made the breakthrough from the spot.
Vidic was lucky not to receive a red card as he appeared to be the last defender.
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Zaza then had to block a drive from Rio Ferdinand after Nemanja Vidic flicked on Nani's corner.
Vidic himself accepted he had committed a foul, but did not believe it was worthy of a dismissal.
But United defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand stood firm amid the home side's periods of concerted pressure.
United also had defender Nemanja Vidic sent off for two yellow cards and lost Michael Carrick to injury.
He nearly scored on the follow up as Vidic's header hit the post and was later denied by Lopez again.
The versatile John O'Shea will partner Nemanja Vidic in central defense if neither Ferdinand nor Evans is fit to play.
Agbonlahor was too quick for Vidic and the United defender had already tugged at his shirt before hauling him down.
Darren Bent pulled a goal back for Villa to make it 2-1 but a Nemanja Vidic strike restored United's two-goal advantage.
This will stretch a defence that is already without injured quartet Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Rafael da Silva and John O'Shea.
Stewart Downing's cross caused confusion, and Vidic was lucky to see Heskey's header bounce off his shoulder on to the bar.
United tried to make their superiority count before half-time, Vidic heading narrowly wide from a Ryan Giggs free-kick, but Villa held firm.
United had hoped Vidic would have recovered from the virus that kept him out of Saturday's Premier League win at West Ham.
The Cameroon international cut inside to elude the challenge of Nemanja Vidic before toe-poking the ball home as Michael Carrick vainly challenged.
With Vidic's future now resolved, Gill revealed that the club will now look to tie striker Wayne Rooney to a long-term deal.
Strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Rooney are expected to recover from injury, Ryan Giggs should play, while centre-half Nemanja Vidic has overcome flu.
Playmaker Danny made it 2-0 with a fine solo goal on the hour, before Nemanja Vidic pulled one back from six yards.
"Our defence will be Fletcher, Carrick, Vidic and Evra, " revealed the Scot.
United were rocking and when the ball broke loose after a Vidic tackle on Young, Agbonlahor crashed a shot off the United post.
Villa won a penalty when Vidic fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor, but the Serb remained on the pitch despite denying the striker a goalscoring opportunity.
Unlike his manager, Dunne felt the decision not to dismiss Vidic was not crucial to the outcome of the 50th League Cup final.
Chris Smalling has done incredibly well in his short spell in the time, but how Ferguson would love Vidic alongside him on Sunday.
Full-back Wes Brown said he had got just one hour's sleep, while Vidic admitted he had not even had as much as that.
When Vidic met a Nani cross at the far post and nodded in an angle header, the visitors suddenly felt victory was within reach.
The other major blow at Chelsea, aside from defeat, was the sending off of defender Nemanja Vidic, who now misses the game at Liverpool.
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