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This time it's the kids' turn.
Fergie offers Carling tempter
MANCHESTER United’s shadow squad can go beyond the fringe if they reach this year’s Carling Cup final.
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Sir Alex Ferguson has promised that players involved in Wednesday’s quarter-final against Arsenal can book a ticket for February’s Cardiff showpiece should the Reds go all the way.
He said: “If we get to the final it would be absolutely the same team without question. It is a great incentive for them.”
The United boss turned to those senior players on the fringe of the first team for the wins over Crewe and Crystal Palace, but could give Guiseppe Rossi, the 17-year-old American-Italian striker, his full debut against the Gunners.
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“I know my team apart from one player,” he said last night. “I have one decision to make. I don’t know whether I bring in someone from Saturday’s squad or play Rossi, because we have Saha out.”
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He will have no qualms about turning to the teenager. “He can score goals. He’s only small, but he is good in the air and he’s got quick feet and a great brain,” he says.
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“I have a good group of players and I think the best way is to play them in competitions like the League Cup, where it doesn’t matter who you play. It is a still a step up.”
Arsene Wenger is also likely to make changes to his regular line-up, but although the players who step out at Old Trafford on Wednesday will be different to those involved in the fiery clash when United ended Arsenal’s long unbeaten run last month, Sir Alex says the approach will be the same.
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“This is no different from the last time we met. We want to win and I feel whoever wins this game could go all the way to the final.”
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He has also played down claims that he will warn his players about their behaviour ahead of the kick-off, after the furore which followed the last encounter saying: “We didn’t do anything wrong.”
*
United and Arsenal have met four times in the League Cup.* In 1977 Arsenal won the first encounter 3-2 before United came out on top with a 6-3 aggregate win over two legs in 1983.
The Reds followed that with a 6-2 win at Highbury in 1990, but lost 4-0 in 2001.
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Let's see some blood boys!
Fergie offers Carling tempter
MANCHESTER United’s shadow squad can go beyond the fringe if they reach this year’s Carling Cup final.
*
Sir Alex Ferguson has promised that players involved in Wednesday’s quarter-final against Arsenal can book a ticket for February’s Cardiff showpiece should the Reds go all the way.
He said: “If we get to the final it would be absolutely the same team without question. It is a great incentive for them.”
The United boss turned to those senior players on the fringe of the first team for the wins over Crewe and Crystal Palace, but could give Guiseppe Rossi, the 17-year-old American-Italian striker, his full debut against the Gunners.
*
“I know my team apart from one player,” he said last night. “I have one decision to make. I don’t know whether I bring in someone from Saturday’s squad or play Rossi, because we have Saha out.”
*
He will have no qualms about turning to the teenager. “He can score goals. He’s only small, but he is good in the air and he’s got quick feet and a great brain,” he says.
*
“I have a good group of players and I think the best way is to play them in competitions like the League Cup, where it doesn’t matter who you play. It is a still a step up.”
Arsene Wenger is also likely to make changes to his regular line-up, but although the players who step out at Old Trafford on Wednesday will be different to those involved in the fiery clash when United ended Arsenal’s long unbeaten run last month, Sir Alex says the approach will be the same.
*
“This is no different from the last time we met. We want to win and I feel whoever wins this game could go all the way to the final.”
*
He has also played down claims that he will warn his players about their behaviour ahead of the kick-off, after the furore which followed the last encounter saying: “We didn’t do anything wrong.”
*
United and Arsenal have met four times in the League Cup.* In 1977 Arsenal won the first encounter 3-2 before United came out on top with a 6-3 aggregate win over two legs in 1983.
The Reds followed that with a 6-2 win at Highbury in 1990, but lost 4-0 in 2001.
--------------------
Let's see some blood boys!
