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Sunday, 13 May 2007
CHAMPIONS Manchester United will rest a number of stars when they
visit Chelsea tomorrow but West Ham can expect no favours at Old
Trafford at the weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to make sure the
relegation dogfight is a fair one by fielding his strongest side
against the Hammers.
A long time pal of Hammers boss Alan Curbishley, Ferguson knows the
other clubs at the bottom will expect nothing less than 100% from
United. "The West Ham game is a very important issue," said
Ferguson. "We have to respect our reputation. "Alan Curbishley is a
good friend of mine but he understands we have to respect the
wishes of other managers.
"I get on very well with Paul Jewell and Alan Pardew as well. They
deserve our best attention to the game and I will be picking a team
to win on Sunday. With the Premiership in the bag, Fergie has the
luxury of resting the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin
Van der Sar, as well as taking it easy with Rio Ferdinand and
Nemanja Vidic for the visit to Stamford Bridge.
"I don't know what my team will be at Chelsea but there will be a
lot of changes, simply because the players are so tired, said
Ferguson. Jose Mourinho has said his players will applaud United
onto the pitch on Wednesday night, a sporting gesture welcomed by
Sir Alex. The United players did the same when Chelsea won the
title two years ago. He added: "In the event, I am glad we are
going there as champions. It would have been some game if we
weren't."
