Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted he will continue to put out a reserve side in the League Cup even though the club have now reached the quarterfinals of the competition.
United’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday was achieved with a team showing 10 changes to the starting line-up for last weekend’s goalless draw against Manchester City.
But it was Louis Saha, the sole survivor from the derby match, who put United ahead in the 22nd minute with his first goal of the season before Kieran Richardson scored the second six minutes before the break.
”We will play the same squad we played tonight and give it a real go,” said Ferguson after Wednesday night’s win at Old Trafford set up a clash against arch-rivals Arsenal.
He also praised former Fulham striker Saha, who is battling the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney and Alan Smith for a regular place in the United starting line-up.
”There were a few hard tackles going in but he handled the situation well. When any forward is going through a spell like that, they wonder when they will score again, so I am really pleased for him.”
And Palace manager Iain Dowie said it was no surprise the Frenchman had finally found the net.
”Louis is a quality player … He is quick, good in the air, is brave and has two good feet. You don’t pay £12-million for someone who can’t play.”
Last month, United defeated the reigning champions 2-0 at Old Trafford to end the Gunners’ English top-flight record of 49 unbeaten league games.
An ill-tempered match sparked several disciplinary problems for the Football Association (FA) with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger charged by the governing body after labelling striker Van Nistelrooy a ”cheat”.
The Dutch international was himself suspended for three games following a reckless challenge on the Londoners’ England full-back Ashley Cole.
And, in a bizarre incident, Ferguson was struck in the tunnel by pizza and soup reportedly thrown from inside the visitors’ dressing room.
No wonder the Scot, when he heard the draw, said: ”The FA will be delighted with that. Oh, dearie me. At least we have a home tie. That is all we can ask for.”
Arsenal advanced into the last eight by fielding a near youth team in a 3-1 win over Everton at Highbury on Tuesday.
But even the absence of senior players may not be enough to prevent more controversy later this month if the last Arsenal-United League Cup match three years ago is anything to go by.
Ferguson thought he had reached an agreement with Wenger to field what were effectively youth sides.
The match took place 24 hours after United played in the Premiership and, with their French boss fielding what was a stronger-than-expected team, Arsenal won 4-0.
Debates over weakened League Cup teams haven’t just been an issue for England’s top clubs.
Dowie, for example, went one better than Ferguson on Wednesday by selecting a team showing 11 changes from Palace’s last league match.
For a team intent on qualifying for the lucrative Champions League, the offer of a guaranteed Uefa Cup place to the League Cup winners has done little to change its status as the ”third” of England’s three major domestic competitions behind the Premiership and FA Cup.
At the bottom of the table, the financial consequences of relegation from the Premiership are so dire, teams rarely risk harming their survival chances by having key players injured in League Cup games and so deplete what are often already small squads. — Sapa-AFP