MANCHESTER, England, May 4 (Reuters) - Alex Ferguson made nine changes to the Manchester United team to face Schalke 04 in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday as he kept players fresh for a key league game against Chelsea.
Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar and winger Antonio Valencia were the only players who started last week's 2-0 first-leg win in Germany to keep their places as Sunday's Premier League top-of-the-table clash weighed on the manager's mind.
Ferguson handed the striking duties for the second leg to Premier League top scorer Dimitar Berbatov with Javier Hernandez on the bench. Wayne Rooney, who missed training with a tight hamstring on Tuesday, was rested altogether.
Captain and central defender Nemanja Vidic was also among a strong bench that Ferguson could draw on should the German side look anything like creating an upset.
United and Schalke are vying to book a date with Barcelona in the May 28 final at Wembley.
Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar and winger Antonio Valencia were the only players who started last week's 2-0 first-leg win in Germany to keep their places as Sunday's Premier League top-of-the-table clash weighed on the manager's mind.
Ferguson handed the striking duties for the second leg to Premier League top scorer Dimitar Berbatov with Javier Hernandez on the bench. Wayne Rooney, who missed training with a tight hamstring on Tuesday, was rested altogether.
Captain and central defender Nemanja Vidic was also among a strong bench that Ferguson could draw on should the German side look anything like creating an upset.
United and Schalke are vying to book a date with Barcelona in the May 28 final at Wembley.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire