Palace will face ‘weakened’ Devils

LONDON: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reiterated his intent to field a weakened team against struggling Crystal Palace on the last day of the Premier League season.

Mourinho’s side booked their place in the Europa League final with a battling win over Celta Vigo on Thursday, setting up a Stockholm showdown with Ajax.

But before they meet the Dutch giants on May 24, they have three Premier League matches to play including the season finale against Palace.

That match is three days before the final while Ajax will have nine days to prepare for the crunch final at the Friends Arena in Sweden — and Mourinho has vowed to make “’a lot” of changes for the final league game of the campaign.

He said: “Now Ajax think about the final.

“Their league finishes on Sunday, they have 12 days to prepare, and we have three league matches to play.

“Hopefully Crystal Palace don’t have a lot to play for in the last game because I will make a lot of changes, and hopefully nobody will complain because we have a final three days later.

“The final means an opportunity to win a trophy, to be back in the Champions League, and to end the season in the perfect way because it is the last match of the season.” Daily Mail