Source: Telegraph
Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United reserves will go 'full tilt'
Hull will safeguard their top-flight status with a victory at the KC Stadium, but Phil Brown's team could also avoid relegation with a draw or defeat if Newcastle and Middlesbrough fail to better their result against the champions. [LNB]With United due to face Barcelona in Rome on Wednesday, however, Ferguson has admitted that he will not risk his key men on Humberside. [LNB] Related ArticlesHull v Manchester United: PreviewBrown: I'm loving every minuteBarmby's fire burns brightRooney could win Ballon d'OrFerguson to play fair on 'Survival Sunday'Predictor: How will your team finish?Rio Ferdinand, sidelined for three games with a calf injury, is the only potential Rome starter due to travel to Hull, with the rest of Ferguson's planned starting XI against Barcelona set to train at Carrington on Sunday. [LNB]Ferguson's selection plans have raised questions over the integrity of the Premier League, but the United manager insists that, whichever team he selects, he will expect it to win the game. [LNB]Ferguson said: "Our responsibility is to win the European Cup and everyone is aware of that. That's why we are talking about changes. [LNB]"My players wouldn't forgive me if I played the strongest team on Sunday. They would say 'what?' That would be the best thing that could happen to Hull, really. They would relish that. [LNB]"Would my (first choice) players be tiptoeing around? It's possible. [LNB]"You could get one of those 50-50 tackles or a somersault over the shoulder in the first tackle and you say, 'that is enough for me'. It is a fact of life. [LNB]"Nobody should worry themselves about our intentions. If I can trust these players in an FA Cup semi-final, then why can't I trust them in the final game of the season when we have already won the league?" [LNB]Senior figures such as Wes Brown, Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Darren Fletcher are expected to face Hull, with youngsters Lee Martin, Darron Gibson and Federico Macheda also due to play. [LNB]And despite suggestions that the clubs in relegation trouble only have themselves to blame for their predicament, Ferguson insists that United are fully aware of the importance of the final day's fixtures. [LNB]He said: "One game can decide everyone's fate and that is not lost on me. It is unfair to say that these clubs have had 37 opportunities to stay in the league. [LNB]"We have won the league four times on the last day of the season, so you cannot say that the final game didn't mean anything to us. [LNB]"I did contemplate phoning the three managers involved, Gareth Southgate, Alan Shearer and Ricky Sbragia. [LNB]"But Ricky worked here, he knows this club and knows exactly what we are going to do. [LNB]"And both Gareth Southgate and Alan Shearer played against us many times, so they know exactly what it's like to play against Manchester United, so I dismissed the idea because they must know we will be doing our best. [LNB]"It is a strong team that we will play on Sunday. It is a team in some case with fantastic potential, but in a lot of cases, the team will have experience. [LNB]"If we don't win on Sunday, I will be slaughtered on Monday. It will be the worst thing that has ever happened to the British game and people will be complaining about me damaging the integrity of our league. [LNB]"That's the thing about success and praise; you have to treat it for what it is." [LNB]Meanwhile, United have warned fans not to purchase Champions League final tickets on the black market following the disappearance of 216 tickets for next Wednesday's game in Rome. [LNB]United are currently in negotiations with Uefa for duplicates to be issued after the missing tickets were cancelled amid fears that they may have been stolen for resale on the black market. [LNB]A United spokesman said: "We would implore supporters not to buy tickets from unofficial sources. [LNB]"Those tickets that have gone missing will not work due to them being cancelled, so any supporter that purchases them will not be able to gain access to the stadium in Rome." [LNB]
