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. nicandmart1 Don't you mean 2 spankings 2-1 and 1-4­ ha ha don't put all your money on Utd next­ wednesday save some for your BFH thats bus fare home ha­ ha !!!!

    From john g, on Thu 21 May 11:28PM

  2. nickandmart, 2 SPANKINGS YOU MEAN YOU FACKIN IDIOT

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 11:19PM

  3. The league is decided over a 38 game season this season­ started last August
    The teams that are in the­ relegation area are there due to loosing more games­ than they have won.
    I feel sorry for the fans of­ Newcastle as they have supported their team through­ more thin than thick for years they have had one decent­ owner Sir John Hall but when he left it started to go­ rotten then they wished for Freddy shepard to go he did­ but he ensured Freddie was ok and sod the fans and the­ team what the hell did Spuds supporter Ashley want with­ buying newcastle??? deep in debt and needing loads of­ money spending on the team oh yeah i will pay off the­ debt and get in dennis not so wise to buy the players ­ over kevin keegan FFS thinking but as always it is the­ fans who suffer

    From Alex F, on Thu 21 May 11:17PM

  4. barca are about due a good spanking, all top teams get­ one from time to time we had ours off a second rate­ should be championship team from merseyside somewhere­ so i think utd's players if on form can leather­ barca

    From N, on Thu 21 May 11:16PM

  5. Oh yes still here but going soon Pegez talks sh-t am­ afraid

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 11:15PM

  6. And Pegez what does your article prove nothing really­ load of sh-t

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 11:05PM

  7. good neet scouse hater sis you later !! be good­ hahahahah

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 11:04PM

  8. well said john g !! thats why i hate em ! and bcos­ ther mancs from london ! and i hate ther ground n­ players n tea woman if they have one and i hate em cos­ they stink and ther inbreeds too best thing bout­ manchester is the road oot toon toon

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 11:03PM

  9. sanditroy, funny! did your carer come up with that joke­ for you? United out-classed your p!sh chelski team in­ Russia. It was a fluke it ever got to penalties. jt is­ the biggest fud ever!!!!

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 11:03PM

  10. and 2009!

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 11:01PM

  11. Lfc: Football League First Division (English football­ champions) (level 1)
    Winners (18); FA Cup
    Winners­ (7); FA Charity Shield / FA Community Shield
    Winners­ (15, 10 outright and 5 shared); European Cup and UEFA­ Champions League
    Winners (5): 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984,­ 2005

    United: Premier League:[85] 11 ; FA Cup: 11 ;­ League Cup: 3 ; European Cup/UEFA Champions League: 3­
    1968, 1999, 2008
    Doubles:
    League and FA Cup: 3­
    1994, 1996, 1999 (as part of The Treble)
    League and­ League Cup: 1
    2009
    European Double (League and­ European Cup): 2
    1999 (as part of The Treble), 2008­
    "The Treble" (League, FA Cup and European­ Cup): 1
    1999

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 11:01PM

  12. Europeancup/chamoins league 1977 1978 1981 1984 2005­ x5 so stick that up your arse

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 11:00PM

  13. im watching my team in rome on wednesday!liverfool is­ in traning ground on wed so all liverfool fans go n­ watch traning or f##k urself!hhhaaaaahhhhaaaaa

    From hoomalevickram, on Thu 21 May 10:59PM

  14. Its just like i have been saying all season old whiskey­ nose has the FA in his pocket, he can field a weakened­ team againt Hull, Utd have won the title so @#$% to­ everyone else is their message, what about Newcastle­ they deserve to have every chance to stay in the­ premiership, but just typical of usporting ferguson and­ Man U, its no wonder the majority of true fans hate­ them!!!

    From john g, on Thu 21 May 10:59PM

  15. Hey Geordie,
    of course your going­ somewhere Down.

    From reddevil155, on Thu 21 May 10:56PM

  16. Last year Man U beat Barca so I do not see them not­ doing it again.

    From FRANCIS, on Thu 21 May 10:55PM

  17. European Cup/UEFA Champions League: 3
    1968, 1999, 2008

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 10:53PM

  18. Hoy a yammer o,er hannah hinny.
    Gis a bottle o broon­ ale.

    yah divy gan to the netty. You GOB Sh8te

    Born­ and Bred in Manchester.

    Live up here in the North East­ as a Missionary too educate you lot.

    From reddevil155, on Thu 21 May 10:52PM

  19. After ALL is said and done. its only a game!
    Shanks and­ Fergie know it!

    From Dave M, on Thu 21 May 10:52PM

  20. pegez or is it pegleg which 1 r u. u saw 4 urself we­ was robbed and if we did get to rome i think revenge­ would play a big part.u only won cause jt slipped

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:51PM
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