Manchester United Football Club News

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

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Fergie defends cup selection

20 Apr 2009 - 13:29:02

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Sir Alex Ferguson claims he has no regrets over the Manchester United side he picked for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Everton.

Ferguson made eight changes to the line-up which started last week's Champions League quarter-final against FC Porto for the Wembley date.

The likes of Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda and Fabio da Silva managed to hold Everton to a goalless draw after 120 minutes before losing 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out.

Afterwards Ferguson's team selection was criticised, but the veteran Scot claims his decision to rest the likes of first-team regulars Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Ryan Giggs and John O'Shea was justified ahead of a hectic series of fixtures.

"I am absolutely convinced I picked the right team," he said. "I have no regrets about it at all.

"I knew there would be some criticism because it did not work for us.

"But we are coming to that period now where it is game after game. It is all go and I need to pick the right teams.

"It is not nice to lose a semi-final and this one is no different.

"But there is enough freshness in the rest of the squad for Wednesday now, which is how we planned it."