Hull midfielder George Boateng expects a tough afternoon against Manchester United next weekend - even if their kit man takes the field.
The Tigers' battle for survival in the Premier League now hinges on their final match against the newly-crowned champions on Sunday.
It is a daunting prospect but, with the title wrapped up, there have been suggestions United might field an under-strength side at the KC Stadium as attention turns to the Champions League final.
That offers Hull some hope but Boateng is well aware of the strength in depth United possess.
The Dutchman said: "I wouldn't expect Manchester to do us any favours. I know three days later they have a massive Champions League final, I hope their kit man will get a mention on their teamsheet - but he might be a very good player.
"They won't want to risk any players getting injured but they have a duty. Other teams will complain if they don't field a strong team."






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I do hope Hull stay up, I like Brownie, he,s my type of person, good luck mate.
Mr Brown, if you scrape through and stay in the Premiership will it be good for Hull City or for YOU? One of A Managers priorities and duties towards his players is to motivate them! From what I read, see and hear you tend to do this only for the opposition and hardly ever for your own players! Players who with a little more from you would be facing this last game with the knowledge that they where already safe in the Premiership! You have added unecessary pressure on all your players since you Half time on field dressing down of Players that when they needed you couldn`t find you!
I'm a Hull supporter and given how Man Utd's "reserve team" performed against everton in the FA Cup semi and how our boys are struggling for form it will still be a very difficult game to get anything from. Any manager in charge of Man Utd right now would do exactly what Sir Alex is expected to do and field a weaker side against Hull so his star players are fresh for Barcelona, it's a no brainer really. Good luck and may the best team win!
It is a terrible dilemma for ferguson.
I am a Newcastle United fan and i obviously want him to play his strongest side against hull; there is absolutely no chance of this happening though. I fully understand why he won't play his strongest side and i accept it.
This is down to UEFA and their ridiculous scheduling of this final; they know it is close to the end of many domestic leagues, and thus know it can have a great impact on the outcome of domestic matters.
It's just a shame my team NUFC was not afforded the same luxury of facing a manchester united youth team - maybe they might've picked up a point or even 3 instead of the none that they got - although then again, we'd probably have got thumped off them too!!
As for that fool Brown harping on about 'expecting no favours from united' - who's he trying to kid!
Barcelona played a weak team once they clinched the title on Saturday and who can blame Man United to field a younger side? By the way, the younger MU side is by far much stronger than Barcelona's reserve team.
I expect Daren Fletcher will play in the Hull game and he may be even the captain. Paul Scholes may play some as he did not play in Arsenal game. Even Ferdinard may play if SAF wants him to have some game time before the CL final.
IT WAS NOT LACK OF RESPECT, HE WAS SAVING HIS BEST TEAM AND GIVING THE OTHERS A CHANCE, HOW ELSE WILL THEY LEARN IF THEY DON'T PLAY..MAKES ME SICK HOW PPL ARE SO ENVIOUS OF UTD THAT THEY HAVE TO NIT PICK ALL THE DAMN TIME..BETTER IF THEY CONCENTRATED ON THEIR OWN TEAMS AS FERGIE DOES...ITS A GAME AND YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO, EVERYONE WANTS TO WIN.
We fielded a strong team against Everton in the FA Cup semi final and Fergie got slated for it by the press and the pundits afterwards, some saying that he failed to show proper respect to the FA Cup competition, even though we were every bit as good as Everton over the 90 minutes, and only lost the decision on penalties! If we were to field the same team against Hull, how could anybody say that we had fielded a weak side just to help to keep Hull up at the expense of say, Newcastle? Totally Fcukin' Ridiculous!
With the Champions League final looming on the 27th, which Manager with even half a brain wouldn't want to rest and protect his best players for the big day? However, just for arguement sake, let's say that Fergie decides to play the top players against Hull, and MUFC then lose to Barca in Rome, what a field day the press would have criticizing Fergie for NOT resting his squad!
We're fcuked if we do and fcuked if we don't ,,, but WE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB, and it all goes with the territory of being THE BEST FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE WORLD ... FACT! (and we already have the title to prove it) !!!!!
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