Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Early kick-off frustrates Fergie

02 May 2009 - 11:28:03

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is annoyed with the timing of his side's crucial Premier League clash against Middlesbrough.

United kick-off on Saturday lunchtime but Ferguson thinks that should not be the case after a club has had a midweek European tie.

Ferguson's side beat Arsenal in a Champions League semi-final first leg encounter on Wednesday.

The veteran Scot fumed: "You'd think people in offices think about it but, when you shake hands with the devil, you pay the price.

"Every game is so important and the incentives so great now, whether it's at midnight or 7am, it doesn't interrupt what we're doing.

"The funny thing is the players are quite buoyed up and want to play.

"Our performance on Wednesday helps, although I have to make sure there is the right kind of freshness so we get the balance in the team right.

"I have plenty of fresh players. Ryan Giggs only played for 20 minutes on Wednesday and Paul Scholes is fresh."