Megson - League comes first

27 February 2009 16:54
olton manager Gary Megson can understand why Martin O'Neill and Harry Redknapp both fielded weakened teams in the Uefa Cup.[LNB] The former West Brom and Leicester boss also believes that the competition will always play second fiddle to the Premier League.[LNB]With Villa fighting it out for a UEFA Champions League place, and Tottenham battling to stay in the top flight and the small matter of the Carling Cup final on Sunday, both played weakened teams in their European fixtures in midweek.[LNB]Both were subsequently knocked out, but after he did the same thing just last season in the same competition, Megson believes it highlights the importance of the Premier League.[LNB]"It shows you the pull and the strength of the Premier League," he said.[LNB]"It is not purely financial but if you win the Uefa Cup it might not be worth as much as your prize money in the Premier League.[LNB]"People are talking about a European league. I think it is here now. There are clubs that expect to be in the Champions League and have to be in the Champions League.[LNB]"So they buy two teams, one that can win games in the Premier League and another that can win in the Champions League.[LNB]"Most clubs, and certainly the ones in the Uefa Cup, cannot do that.[LNB]"You are also playing on a Thursday, travelling back on a Friday and having another game on Sunday makes it difficult. That's what we found last season."[LNB]SurvivalMegson was criticised, sometimes by his own fans, for fielding weakened sides in last season's Uefa Cup where Bolton reached the last 16, but the Trotters boss insists he was proved right in the end.[LNB]"The only thing I was interested in last year was keeping Bolton in the division," he revealed.[LNB]"The priority will always be the Premier League and that goes for any club. All those people who pilloried me for team selection, we didn't have a lot of choice.[LNB]"But we did a lot better than quite a few this year.[LNB]"We played the reserves against Bayern Munich in Germany and drew 2-2. We played the reserves in Serbia and Red Star then did the same against Atletico Madrid."[LNB]Wanderers have won two of their last three league games but their manager admits that they are still 10 points short of their safety total.[LNB]The club face crucial games over the next week which could determine the outcome of their season with Newcastle at home on Sunday followed by a trip to Stoke on Wednesday.[LNB]"What you hope to do at the start of the season is get to 40 points and then move on," he stated.[LNB]"But there are very few teams in that position at this moment. The amount of teams locked together is incredible."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports