SOCCER:ALEX FERGUSON is planning to give his first-choice Manchester United team the weekend off to prepare for their Champions League tie against Marseille on Wednesday, with the club not under threat of facing sanctions for fielding a severely weakened side against Crawley Town in the FA Cup.
The Premier League fined Blackpool €30,000 for making 10 changes in their game at Aston Villa in November but the English FA intends to turn a blind eye to Ferguson’s decision to change possibly his entire team for the visit of opposition from the Blue Square Premier.
“We’ll be playing all the players who played at Southampton [in the last round], apart from Jonny Evans and Michael Owen [who are both injured],” Ferguson said.
“We’ll hopefully bring in Bebe, the two Da Silvas [Rafael and Fabio], Wes Brown and John O’Shea. We’re strong in midfield, we’ve got Anderson, Darron Gibson and Michael Carrick, and then there’s Chicharito [Javier Hernandez], so we’re not too bad.”
Anders Lindegaard is expected to replace Edwin van der Sar in goal, with Gabriel Obertan joining United’s attack now Owen’s injury problems have resurfaced.
Ryan Tunnicliffe has been promoted to the squad from the youth team, with Ravel Morrison, Paul Pogba and Joshua King also under consideration.
However, the luckless Owen Hargreaves appears to be no closer to a return 3½ months after damaging his hamstring in his comeback match.
Ferguson said: “He’s still with the physios, still in rehab, there’s nothing more to report.”
As for Owen, Ferguson said: “Michael picked up a small injury during the week. It’s forced him out of the game but it’s only a small injury and I’d imagine he will be all right for Wednesday. It’s a pity because I was keen to play him, having talked him up last week.”
The wholesale changes are a measure of Ferguson’s confidence about the imbalance of talent between the two squads, though he is also mindful about how United were taken to replays in their previous two FA Cup ties against non-league opposition, Exeter City in 2005 and Burton Albion the following year.
“It’s a reminder that shocks can happen and they almost did to us against those two teams. The quality of our players means we shouldn’t have the same worry but I do respect the fact that Crawley are the best non-league team for quite a while.
“They’re bringing 9,000 fans and that’s brilliant for them. People talk about the FA Cup dying and all the rest of it but it won’t die as long as you have the sort of giant-killing acts that Crawley have produced.
“Every manager will tell you the same: you don’t want to be a casualty of that. We lost to Leeds United last year and it wasn’t easy to take.”
Nonetheless it is a chance for Ferguson to rest key players. Ryan Giggs, who has signed a one-year contract extension, is one and the United manager also cited Nani as someone who deserved a break. The Portugal winger has legitimate claims to be recognised as United’s best player this season, with 10 goals and 13 assists.
“Every time he gets near the ball you think something’s going to happen and that means you’ve got a great player,” said Ferguson.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was exceptional, a once-in-a-lifetime player. But it did take him time to settle into the English game. Nani has done it a bit quicker actually, in the sense of understanding the game. He’s started to be mature and consistent.”
