Premier League - United 'can field weakened team'

Eurosport - Thu, 21 May 23:28:00 2009

Manchester United have every right to field a weakened team against Hull City on Sunday even though it could have an impact on the relegation battle, according to Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.

FOOTBALL Ferguson Manchester United - 0

United, who clinched the league title last weekend, face Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome next Wednesday and manager Alex Ferguson (pictured) is considering resting some of his senior players for the match at Hull.

"You can't alter the fact they've won the league and they've got the most significant game the following Wednesday against Barcelona," Scudamore told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"You have to be realistic: they've got a squad, and therefore you can't argue that they deploy the benefit of that squad in a game on Sunday."

Hull, however, are deeply involved in a battle to avoid relegation with Sunderland, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough.

Sunderland have 36 points, Hull 35, Newcastle 34 and Middlesbrough 32. West Bromwich Albion (31) are already down.

If Hull beat United they will avoid relegation and if they drew with United and Newcastle lost to Aston Villa they would stay up.

Scudamore believes that whatever team Ferguson names, they will still be going all out for a win.

"They are the most professional of professional football clubs," he said.

"Sir Alex Ferguson's going to put a team out that he intends to win that game on Sunday."

Ferguson has said that Rio Ferdinand, who has been nursing a calf injury, must play against Hull to prove his fitness for the Champions League final and that Darren Fletcher, who is suspended for the Rome match, will also play against Hull.

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia, whose side would go down if they lose to Chelsea and Newcastle and Hull both win, said that even if United did field a weakened side, he still expected them to beat Hull.

"Manchester United will play a team that can beat Hull, it's as simple as that," he said.

Sbragia was United's reserve team boss for three years under Ferguson and added: "They have a lot of depth in their squad, some very good young players as well. They will totally believe they can win the game and that's all we can ask for. Alex won't put out a team of youth team players, I'll tell you that now."

Reuters

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  1. Sweet FA Scudamore says that it dosen't matter­ about 'adjusted strength' teams for certain­ matches, its results over the season that count. OK, ­ London Big Shot , explain away 'Hired Gun'­ Tevez appearing illegally, according to YOUR rules,­ for the last few of West Ham (cheating) United matches!­ And why was their no consequential points deduction­ when the miscarriage was discovered? Ask ­ Luton/Southampton etc.

    From GEOF, on Fri 22 May 2:21PM

  2. Scouse wannabe's hahahahaha

    From Slinky, on Fri 22 May 1:17PM

  3. Well said sandytroy.According to the Mancs And poor­ Scouse -hater.their are only SCUM in Liverpool.
    He­ forgets that Manchester is the gun capital of­ europe..
    Nice to see the tables turned,,,,

    From Marge Simpson., on Fri 22 May 8:37AM

  4. Actually the assasian in the MU box is a Liverpool fan,­ but could not find anybody worth bubping off in the­ dump of a city.

    From , on Fri 22 May 6:02AM

  5. comment 691...common guy, lfc always talk about their­ history of their previous greatness, LFC are yesterday­ and MU are today and tomorrow and the day after­ tomorrow...dont look backward LFC...see forward..if you­ look at your backward at your history greatness you­ will never go forward..or the LFC are afraid that they­ are cannot or unable to achieve what MU been enjoy­ today...LFC are just and history and alway be a history­ forever...and MU will create lot of history that are­ than LFC always say....GLORY...GLORY MAN UTD....

    From harz1205, on Fri 22 May 4:34AM

  6. there is no such thing as a weak united side.They have­ what it takes to win any game.They are true­ professionals and fergie will wisely play or rest as he­ sees fit.Although they are premiership champions they­ will field a great side and will be doing their best to­ beat hull or any other team they come up against as­ they hate to be beaten.

    From FRANKIE G, on Fri 22 May 2:22AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    djcoutd - it's really sad looking at your life that­ fill with hatred towards scousers. there's nothing­ about LFC here but you just couldn't resist giving­ a go at anytime. Is that necessary? football rivalry­ aside, did scousers mug you on a daily basis or­ something? i'm no scousers but i've learned to­ respect. did you just spam? well anyway, I won't be­ tuning in next Wed but GOOD LUCK IN ROME.

    From c, on Fri 22 May 2:06AM

  8. just remember mancs, at best, on Wednnesday night you­ will have equalled our 18 leagues and still been 1­ behind our famous European League titles - not exactly­ off our perch, just slightly behind us,.....

    From paul.bennion, on Fri 22 May 1:59AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I'm extremely disappointed - remember the trouble 2­ years ago, that naughty English man Neil Warnock was­ goin to hang every foreigner, (mainly Spanish­ Managers)from a rope - that tyrant Rafa Benitez was a­ disgrace!! how dare he play non first teamers against­ Fulham !!! Yet Ferguson decides to play non first team­ players against Hull...blah blah blah etc etc the usual­ bull - Ferguson is full of @#$%

    From paul.bennion, on Fri 22 May 1:52AM

  10. Liverpoo liverpoo
    How did you fair,
    you beat us twice­ ,
    but no trophy was there,
    Don't be bitter­
    don't have a moan,
    tune in next wednesday,
    and­ watch us in Rome,
    18 times and thats a fact,
    and­ champions league finals
    back to back,
    I'll just­ say one thing ,
    I am a scouse hater,
    You'll win­ feck all
    with a fat spanish waiter. GLORY­ GLORY MAN UTD

    From Dean, on Fri 22 May 12:56AM

  11. there is no legislation to say fergie has to field a­ strong side against anyone ;et alone hull, and he is­ obviously gonna rest a good few for barca, and anyway­ any member of uniteds squad would get into any of the­ top teams in europe and would win comfortably with­ their thirds out, their strength in depth cannot be­ matched by anyone cos fergie has invested wisely

    From Andy T, on Fri 22 May 12:28AM

  12. sanditroy,go knit something then.....

    From pegez, on Fri 22 May 12:24AM

  13. sanditroy, I am Scottish yes, no I'm not ginger and­ yes I have all my teeth. And I'll thank you not to­ insult my people. What the heck are you twaddling about­ the lakes??? Are you demented? And I actually thought­ chelsea should have beat barca.

    From pegez, on Fri 22 May 12:23AM

  14. Roger B, it proves we've won as much as you. duh!

    From pegez, on Fri 22 May 12:14AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    No matter what manchester United have won in the past­ or will win in the furure they have only got to the­ final of the championship because they have won the­ Premiership once more ( And I have no doubt they are­ the best team around at the moment)because of this they­ have a DUTY TO the other teams in the premishire ship­ to field the strongest team they can. if they field a­ weakened side they might allow Hull City to avoid­ relegation a team who might otherwise be relegated HOW­ CAN THIS BE FAIR.
    Having said that i hope they stuff­ hull and Barca a weeek on Wedensday
    a true manc.

    From not that kind of blue, on Fri 22 May 12:07AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    oh well im off seems as though everyone has gone to bed­ day of tommorrow yippppeee,long weekend, bye scouse,­ pegleg,sleep tight dont let the bedbugs bite roflmao

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 11:49PM

  17. ASSASSINATION ORGANISED AT MAN U BOX. is the headlines­ need i say more about ur fans and u have the cheek to­ call scousers,pot kettle and black comes to mind.told­ ya u lot was the worst lot am i right? shameful lot u­ r.and thats being nice,organised crime from ur boxes­ pity on u

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 11:39PM

  18. ASSASSINATION ORGANISED AT MAN U BOX. is the headlines­ need i say more about ur fans and u have the cheek to­ call scousers,pot kettle and black comes to mind.told­ ya u lot was the worst lot am i right? shameful lot u­ r.and thats being nice,organised crime from ur boxes­ pity on u

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 11:38PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    pegez pegleg r u scottish comming out with that p!sh­ bet ur ginger and have no teeth like the rest (except­ my hubby). i dont need a carer as im only 29. didnt­ know they had many scottish man u fans in scotland­ every time i go up they all seem to like the­ scousers.shouldnt u be following aberdeen where that­ old man used to manage.i am being nice tonight.scouse­ dont like the lake district thanks, showing ur age now­ going to the knitting and folk dancing told u­ manchester was backward, they still knit their kids­ school uniform,enjoy the lakes i will enjoy my girlie 5­ days sun sea shopping and drinking

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 11:31PM

  20. pegez pegleg r u scottish comming out with that p!sh­ bet ur ginger and have no teeth like the rest (except­ my hubby). i dont need a carer as im only 29. didnt­ know they had many scottish man u fans in scotland­ every time i go up they all seem to like the­ scousers.shouldnt u be following aberdeen where that­ old man used to manage.i am being nice tonight.scouse­ dont like the lake district thanks, showing ur age now­ going to the knitting and folk dancing told u­ manchester was backward, they still knit their kids­ school uniform,enjoy the lakes i will enjoy my girlie 5­ days sun sea shopping and drinking

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 11:28PM
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