Source: Team_Talk
Hughes defends Roy's rotation
Fulham defender Aaron Hughes insists boss Roy Hodgson is entitled to rest his players whenever he feels it is necessary.[LNB] The Premier League are expected to talk to Fulham this week following West Ham's complaint that they fielded a weakened team in their 2-0 defeat to Hull last week.[LNB]The league have already confirmed that the Hammers made an official protest at Fulham's decision to make six changes to their side against the Tigers.[LNB]West Ham co-owner David Sullivan believes Fulham broke league rules by resting key players ahead of last week's Europa League quarter-final against Wolfsburg, which Fulham won 2-1.[LNB]The Cottagers made just one change to the side that beat the Germans when they defeated Wigan 2-1 at Craven Cottage on Sunday.[LNB]Jason Scotland had put Wigan in front in the 34th minute with his first Barclays Premier League strike for the club.[LNB]But second-half goals from substitute Stefano Okaka and Brede Hangeland kept Wigan dangerously close to the relegation zone.[LNB]Defender Hughes backed his manager's decision to rest players.[LNB]"He's entitled to do what he wants - at the end of the day, he's the manager," said Hughes.[LNB]"If he wants to rest a few players and change a few things, then that is his call, it is something that you see all the time but people tend to make a big deal out it when a team loses.[LNB]"The manager did what he needed to do and we certainly support that. We have not always had the luxury of resting players either.[LNB]"This is just what happens when you're involved in Europe and the latter stage of a cup competition. Those clubs that are used to such occurrences will all mix things up, bring players in and rest those that need it, why shouldn't we be able to do the same?"[LNB]Hodgson will not be afraid to rest more players with six games to go.[LNB]"We will make changes in the forthcoming six games, some of these players do need a rest," he said.[LNB]"It has been a magnificent season as far as I am concerned. What the players have done is lifted the club to another level. We have been given an awful lot of credit and the fans have been magnificent on European nights."[LNB]Fulham will now go to Wolfsburg on Thursday hoping to go on and reach the semi-finals of the Europa League.[LNB]But while Europe has been a nice distraction for the club, Hughes says a top-10 finish in the league remains a priority.[LNB]"I think everyone would agree that we have come a long way but at the same time we are under no illusions of what we need to achieve," said Hughes.[LNB]"It would definitely be nice to finish in the top half but it will be tough because there are three or four teams with similar ambitions.[LNB]"It would be a great achievement though, especially when you consider the amount of games we have had to play."[LNB]Captain Danny Murphy believes Fulham can go to Wolfsburg and finish the job to claim a place in the last four.[LNB]"I am very confident we can score ourselves in the second leg, so we will go there with the belief that we can and then they will have to score three to win the tie," he said.[LNB]"Their goal right at the end took the gloss off an otherwise fantastic night, but I don't think we should be too harsh on ourselves."[LNB]Meanwhile, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez hopes his young side can learn from expensive mistakes and avoid relegation.[LNB]Martinez's side were guilty of two critical lapses in concentration which allowed Fulham to win the game.[LNB]The defeat left Athletic hovering above the danger zone but Martinez hopes their home games - against Portsmouth, Arsenal and then Hull on May 1 - will see them through.[LNB]"We have got two home games (next) and the home form is going to be vital," admitted Martinez.[LNB]"But we are not far away. It is going to be an exciting run-in but I am more interested in our own performance.[LNB]"We don't want to be involved in things on the last day of the season.[LNB]"When we do the right things we can beat anyone. We beat Chelsea, Liverpool, and Aston Villa away from home but we need to make sure we mature quickly.[LNB]"We are young squad and it is a new group of players but the basics in football are concentration and learning to be a bit more ruthless.[LNB]"We performed well in the first half against Fulham but we gave away cheap goals in the second period. We have to learn from our lapses in concentration."[LNB]
