Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says it is wrong any
team should have to play early on a Saturday after a midweek
European tie.
United played Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday and
live television coverage means they face a 1245 BST kick-off at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
“You’d think people in offices think about it but when you shake
hands with the devil you pay the price,” he said.
The game at Boro is likely to have big implications at both ends
of the table.
United, three points clear at the top of the Premier League with
five games left, hope to cement their lead before title rivals
Liverpool – who host Newcastle – and Chelsea, who face Fulham, play
at 1500 BST on Saturday.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are three points adrift of safety and
fighting to avoid the drop into the Championship.
Ferguson admitted with so much riding on every game, it was hard
for anything to be regarded as a priority.
“Every game is so important and the incentives so great now,
whether it is at midnight or 7am, it does not interrupt what we are
doing,” he said.
After Wednesday’s 1-0 first-leg semi-final win over Arsenal,
Ferguson is expected to make changes and rest players, but has
hinted he may not make as many changes as first thought.
“The funny thing is the players are quite buoyed up and want to
play,” said Ferguson.
“Our performance on Wednesday helps, although I have to make
sure there is the right kind of freshness so we get the balance in
the team right.
“I have plenty of fresh players. Ryan Giggs only played for 20
minutes on Wednesday and Paul Scholes is fresh.”
Ferguson also has Wes Brown available for the first time since
the end of January.
Brown may be required if Jonny Evans, a likely replacement for
the injured Rio Ferdinand, fails to shake off a foot problem.
Boro, meanwhile, are still missing defenders Emanuel Pogatetz
(knee) and Chris Riggott (ankle), but French midfielder Didier
Digard – who came on during last week’s 2-0 defeat by Arsenal – is
in contention for a start.
Manager Gareth Southgate has admitted failing to stay in the
Premier League would affect a lot more people than just the playing
staff.
“What always happens in any club that is relegated, people who
aren’t earning very much are often the ones who lose their jobs,
and that’s unsettling for everybody,” he said.
“I want to achieve success over the next few games for everybody
at the club, not just the players.
“As the manager, you have to prepare for both scenarios. I have
to plan budgets and look at the upheaval.”
Despite their parlous position, Southgate remains upbeat about
causing an upset against United at The Riverside.
“We have got results against Arsenal and Liverpool here this
season already, so that fills us with confidence,” he added.
“There’s nothing to lose because nobody would expect us to get
anything from the game – and if we do, that’s a huge boost for
us.”
Middlesbrough (from): Jones, Turnbull, Hoyte, McMahon, Taylor,
Grounds, Wheater, Huth, Hines, Aliadiere, Tuncay, Bates, O’Neil,
Walker, Shawky, Downing, Johnson, Digard, Alves, King.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O’Shea, Rafael,
Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher,
Carrick, Anderson, Park, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov, Macheda,
Welbeck.