United to rest Van der Sar for Blackburn trip
Source: Agencies |
May 14, 2011, Saturday
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MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson will rest goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for today's trip to Blackburn Rovers but otherwise field a full-strength team as he seeks to wrap up the Premier League title.
Ferguson wants to keep the 40-year-old, who is retiring at the end of this season, fresh for the May 28 Champions League final against Barcelona and hopes his team can pick up the point it needs for the domestic title without him.
"I'm going to rest Edwin van der Sar tomorrow given the program he's been through in the last few weeks," Ferguson, seeking a 12th Premier League title with the club, told a news conference yesterday. "He's played every game ... we have an opportunity to give him a break."
A draw against struggling Blackburn would seal a record 19th English league title, while if it should lose it could still secure it tomorrow if Chelsea does not beat Newcastle United. There is still a final round of games next Sunday.
On paper it should be a simple job, with United having hammered Blackburn 7-1 earlier in the season thanks to five goals from Dimitar Berbatov but with the hosts involved in the relegation battle Ferguson is not expecting an easy ride.
"We're going to play our strongest team. It's a big game. It's always a difficult game at Blackburn," he said. "They are also fighting, I think they probably need a point."
Midfielder Darren Fletcher should feature against Blackburn as he continues his comeback from a virus that sidelined him for two months and Ferguson hopes he can be fit in time to face Barca.
Winning the title would see United break the record of 18 it shares with bitter rival Liverpool. Clinching it today could also steal some thunder from neighbor Manchester City, which plays Stoke City in the FA Cup final the same day.
Ferguson wants to keep the 40-year-old, who is retiring at the end of this season, fresh for the May 28 Champions League final against Barcelona and hopes his team can pick up the point it needs for the domestic title without him.
"I'm going to rest Edwin van der Sar tomorrow given the program he's been through in the last few weeks," Ferguson, seeking a 12th Premier League title with the club, told a news conference yesterday. "He's played every game ... we have an opportunity to give him a break."
A draw against struggling Blackburn would seal a record 19th English league title, while if it should lose it could still secure it tomorrow if Chelsea does not beat Newcastle United. There is still a final round of games next Sunday.
On paper it should be a simple job, with United having hammered Blackburn 7-1 earlier in the season thanks to five goals from Dimitar Berbatov but with the hosts involved in the relegation battle Ferguson is not expecting an easy ride.
"We're going to play our strongest team. It's a big game. It's always a difficult game at Blackburn," he said. "They are also fighting, I think they probably need a point."
Midfielder Darren Fletcher should feature against Blackburn as he continues his comeback from a virus that sidelined him for two months and Ferguson hopes he can be fit in time to face Barca.
Winning the title would see United break the record of 18 it shares with bitter rival Liverpool. Clinching it today could also steal some thunder from neighbor Manchester City, which plays Stoke City in the FA Cup final the same day.
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