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

Comment 508 - 527 of 567

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. La

    From FRANCIS, on Thu 21 May 10:50PM

  2. im gannin bed lads !! us geordies have to work unlike­ you doleites have fun catch you tomoz !!! ohaye­ assassin ur still a tool hahahahaha toon toon black and­ white army

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:49PM

  3. sorry scouse i aint a swinger or into this wife­ swapping lark giving out ur secrets wot the manchester­ folk get upto.and i aint gonna mention inbreds tut tut­ enjoy ur weekend i am of to dubai in 3 wks

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:48PM

  4. jeemy.wilson - sorry for the late reply but most Boro­ fans can't wait to see the back of Downing, ever­ since he got his England call up, he thinks he's­ better than everyone else when in truth, even tho he is­ a good player on his day, another manager would have­ dropped him when his form dropped and it would also be­ harder for him to play week in - week out in unless he­ shows why he was in the England squad in the first­ place, Southgate on the other hand wouldn't drop­ him when he was playing badly and should have been­ replaced by Adam Johnson or moved in the centre to try­ and solve the problems Boro where having there, the­ problem now facing Boro is that Johnson seems to have­ turned down a contract extention and Downing could well­ be at the club until January, so come next year should­ Boro get promoted back to the Prem, they would have­ lost 2 good left wingers and will be unable to replace­ the quaility that has gone.

    From Smoggie, on Thu 21 May 10:47PM

  5. Dont talk through your f--kin backside regardless of­ name its the same trophey but years ago only champions­ played for it

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 10:47PM

  6. you understood that dint ya ?? english hm

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:46PM

  7. hahahahahaa assassin your funny man

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:45PM

  8. should be quite on here on wednesday neet !! bcos you­ lot of donkeys will be in your armchairs watching the­ mighty barca dump on you !! talking of history you­ will be hahahaha come on barca toon toon black and­ white army

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:42PM

  9. scouse now u r showing ur humour berbaflop cmon­ PLEASE!!! tell me ur joking

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:41PM

  10. Its not League 1 anymore its the premiershp! Its not­ the European cup anymore its the Champions league! Do­ yourselves a favour UTD fans get over it weve won more­ you bitter bunch of muppets

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 10:41PM

  11. roger b, showing your ignorance again. Busby's­ babes did count.

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 10:41PM

  12. scouse now u r showing ur humour berbaflop cmon­ PLEASE!!! tell me ur joking

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:40PM

  13. geordie,dialects and accents aside, can u still speak­ english that the rest of us can understand­ ??????????????????????

    From the silent assassin, on Thu 21 May 10:38PM

  14. sandi - Is United in the Final? Yes! Is chelski? No!

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 10:37PM

  15. RED DEVIL WOTS THE NEET LIFE LIKE IN LONDON ?? IM­ THINKIN O GANNIN DOON THER FOR A WEEKEND !! CAN I STOP­ AT YOURS ?

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:36PM

  16. bassam less of the chelsea wimps pondlife and i agree­ with u man u have got it all to do getting the ball is­ the 1st step

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:35PM

  17. bassamdourzi, and Barca almost got put out by Chelski,­ you muppet!

    rober, b - your just bitter. also because­ lfc has NEVER won the EPL, ONLY the old League 1.­ History shows this also.

    as for poop-ster, I have more­ brain cells than you and can PROVE it. so shove off you­ cockroach-eating @#$%!

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 10:35PM

  18. whyaye SON YOU STARTED IT SAYN WOR GANNIN DOON !!!­ TALKING @#$% MAN

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:34PM

  19. bassam less of the chelsea wimps pondlife and i agree­ with u man u have got it all to do getting the ball is­ the 1st step

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:33PM

  20. i live in ravenswood rd you nob

    From the silent assassin, on Thu 21 May 10:31PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account