MOURINHO THREAT TO PLAY KIDS
JOSE MOURINHO is threatening to get involved in the Premier League relegation battle by playing Manchester United’s Under-23s against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.
The United boss is furious at the fixture pile-up that forced his injury-ravaged team to play nine games in April – and another six this month.
If United beat Celta Vigo to reach the Europa League final, they will finish the season with a run of 16 matches in 54 days. Mourinho’s side will face Palace at Old Trafford on May 21,
® three days before a potential European final very bad if they needed against Ajax or Lyon in the points for us to play Stockholm. with the Under-23s. It’s
The Portuguese is difficult.” already without seven Were Mourinho to first-team regulars, with follow through with his defenders Eric Bailly and threat to field an understrength Luke Shaw the latest to be side it could put ruled out due to injury. him on collision course with the Premier League as well as the managers at clubs battling to avoid the drop.
Wolves got a suspended fine of £25,000 after boss Mick McCarthy made 10 changes for a Premier League game at United in December 2009.
It would not be the first time a United manager has made a controversial final-day selection against a team fighting top-flight relegation.
Ten years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson rested a host of star names – including Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – against a West Ham side needing a win to beat the drop.
Carlos Tevez got the decisive goal for the Hammers and that meant Sheffield United went down instead.
Should his side make it to Sweden, Mourinho is not prepared to put their chances of a European trophy at risk by picking up more injuries – especially as it may be their best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
He said: “You are punished for doing well. If we beat Celta, we have the final on the Wednesday and we play Crystal Palace on the Sunday.
“Before that we play Southampton three days before and, with all respect, would be playing in disaster consequences.
“Maybe I can bring Nicky Butt and his team to play against Crystal Palace. Hopefully, Palace doesn’t need a game to stay in the division because it would be very, ®
Disaster