Source: Eurosport
Fergie gives reassurances over team
Sir Alex Ferguson has urged worried north-east football fans not to fret about the Manchester United team he will turn out at Hull on Sunday.
With Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland all facing the prospect of relegation from the Premier League, they are placing their faith in Ferguson's team not to roll over at the KC Stadium to effectively allow Phil Brown's side to survive.
All three clubs have distanced themselves from speculation they might be tempted to launch a legal fight against United should their team be so weak it fails to provide Hull with any kind of resistance. However, just days before a Champions League final against Barcelona, they are acutely aware that Ferguson will rest almost all his senior players to prevent any risk of injury.
Yet a weakened team should not necessarily translate into a weak one.
Ferguson made numerous changes for the FA Cup semi-final against Everton last month and the Red Devils were still unlucky to lose out on penalties.
And he has assured Gareth Southgate, Alan Shearer and Ricky Sbragia the side he chooses will be a determined one.
"We have a league that has the best integrity in the world and we will play our part in that," he said.
"No matter which team I play, it will represent Manchester United in the normal way.
"We are expected to win. We will go to win. That is the responsibility we always have."
