Scudamore sure Ferguson will ‘pick team to go out and win’

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore claims he has absolutely no concerns over whether Manchester United will field a weakened team in their final league game of the season tomorrow.

United host relegation-battling Blackpool at home having already clinched the title, and it had been suggested Sir Alex Ferguson would rest his star players ahead of next week’s Champions League final potentially putting the other four clubs in the mix at the foot of the table – Wolves, Blackburn, Birmingham and Wigan – at a disadvantage.

The Premier League has only twice imposed punishments in regard to their rule on fielding weakened teams – ironically against two clubs potentially affected this time in Blackpool and Wolves – and Scudamore says he is confident it will not be a factor this weekend.

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“I absolutely know that Manchester United will pick a team to go out and win that game,” said Scudamore.

“As far as weakened teams are concerned, the Premier League has only ever applied the rule twice when it’s been an extreme case and somebody has changed all 10 outfield players and then, the week after, gone back and changed the 10 back again.

“That’s not going to happen so I absolutely expect on Sunday that the teams, whoever is put out, will be out to win.”

Scudamore said it was an accepted “quirk of the fixture list” that by the end of the season some teams are playing against others who no longer have much to play for, but said the professionalism of the league made it a non-factor.

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“I don’t need to remind Manchester United or anybody else of their responsibilities,” he said. “They are professional football clubs and professional managers. I wouldn’t dare do that.”

Dimitar Berbatov will be given the chance to secure the Premier League’s Golden Boot prize against Blackpool tomorrow.

The Bulgarian has scored just two goals since January and is now level with Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez on 20.

But he will start for Manchester United while Paul Scholes could make his final Premier League appearance. Edwin van der Sar will be taking part in his last Premier League before retirement, while Anderson, Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher are also expected to be in the starting line-up.

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United yesterday claimed an awards double with Ferguson and Nemanja Vidic landing the Barclays Manager and Player of the Season honours.

Ferguson has led United to their 12th Premier League title, and 19th English league success overall, plus the Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley next Saturday.

Centre-back Vidic has been the key cog in United’s defence and has made more league starts than any other Red Devils player during the campaign.

Ferguson, 69, lands the top manager award from the Premier League sponsors for a ninth time, while 29-year-old Vidic has now been named Barclays’ player of the season twice in his United career, with votes coming from representatives of football’s governing bodies, the media and supporters.