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. feel sorry for u man u fans going out to rome to watch­ ur team chase the ball for 90 mins, parking the team­ bus in front of goal, dealing with messi henry and eto­ iniesta xavi there will be tears of distraught in rome­ and manchester,u wont be able to cope with them

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:28PM

  2. MANU couldn't even defeat Zenit St Petersbourg in­ the European Super Cup. Ok granted they got a bit­ better since then but you are facing BARCA Man, real­ men not boys like these chelsea wimps

    From bassam, on Thu 21 May 10:27PM

  3. Hey Cameron.W
    Got a sense of Humour i­ laugh at Geordies even my Dog Growls when i say Geordie­ or Scouser.

    He can even read and write how come you­ can write and spell in English have you a Translator­ doing this for you.

    Joking apart i would rather see­ the Smoggies and Maccams go down No atmosphere­ their

    No Night Life The beer is watered down on­ Tee-side the women look like a Chemical Reaction on­ Wearside even worse.

    From reddevil155, on Thu 21 May 10:27PM

  4. Pegez dont be a plonker history will show it as a­ European cup please dont be narrow minded I thought­ more of you than that! Go tell the busby babes it­ doesnt count

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 10:26PM

  5. pegez your talking like scouse hater and hes a muppet­ also hahahaha toon toon black and white army

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:25PM

  6. silent assassin im gna report you for telling lies !!! ­ born near the stadium my botty you ve only seen the­ @#$% hole on tv toon toon black and white army

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:23PM

  7. hang on but in the scousers (god that hurt)defence they­ have won 5 european cups to ur 3 fact right and after­ wed it will still be the same right? man u couldnt even­ beat zenit who won the uefa cup and think barca will be­ too good on the night thats my opinion.u will defend­ for 90 mins like we did at the nou camp chasing the­ ball.

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:22PM

  8. hey peggy do you think Man unt could come back from 3­ nil down dont think so, actually what am I saying you­ dont have any brain cells to be thinking with in the­ first place see you later

    From Rooster, on Thu 21 May 10:21PM

  9. hang on but in the scousers (god that hurt)defence they­ have won 5 european cups to ur 3 fact right and after­ wed it will still be the same right? man u couldnt even­ beat zenit who won the uefa cup and think barca will be­ too good on the night thats my opinion.u will defend­ for 90 mins like we did at the nou camp chasing the­ ball.

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:20PM

  10. im gannin no wer scouser hahahahaha bcos i know you­ wna chat hahahaahhaah

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:19PM

  11. roger b, the FACT is: its not the European cup anymore.­ It's not even the same format, anymore. Therefore,­ come wednesday, United will have won THREE Champions­ Leagues and lfc will have won ONE!!! It will state this­ in all history books, so dont hate the messenger, hate­ the message!

    From pegez, on Thu 21 May 10:16PM

  12. sean, work it out, where are you in the table??????

    From the silent assassin, on Thu 21 May 10:15PM

  13. i was born and still live within sight of the stadium­ sonny

    From the silent assassin, on Thu 21 May 10:14PM

  14. no sean aston villa ar th best gabby and luke mon villa­ 2-0 villa

    From carling932000, on Thu 21 May 10:14PM

  15. Pegez dont give me this sh-t about champions­ league/Europeancup your grabbing at straws 5 x wnners­ you 3!

    From europeancupsx5, on Thu 21 May 10:11PM

  16. laters cam

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:10PM

  17. scouse i aint that bad.bipolar u cheeky git lol how is­ ur humour?

    From sanditroy, on Thu 21 May 10:09PM

  18. silent @#$% it wont make sense to you your right its­ just ppl from my neck of the woods londoners wont­ understand you tool

    From geordie, on Thu 21 May 10:09PM

  19. Does anyone think aston villa will get relegated?

    From Sean, on Thu 21 May 10:08PM

  20. if any other team tried to field a below par team the­ fa would be giving them a huge fine typical united one­ law for you muppets and another for the rest you bloody­ unichs know its the truth.

    From DAVID W, on Thu 21 May 10:08PM
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