By Chris Burton Last updated: 6th March 2008
Rooney: Feeling fresh
Wayne Rooney believes that managers should not be criticised for implementing squad rotation policies.
The Manchester United striker feels that players benefit from occasional enforced breaks and are left in better condition heading into the final weeks of the season.
He admits that it is a system which is used by Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford and points to United's continued assault on three fronts this season as proof that it can be successful if employed correctly.
"Last season we had a lot of injuries and we had a few players who played a lot of games and they were tired," Rooney told Uefa's official website.
"Now we have a big squad so hopefully the rotation policy will help us. I think we are a lot fresher.
"A lot of players have not played so many games this season. We brought players in, the squad is bigger and we have not really got any serious injuries at the moment."
The England international's remarks are likely to strike a chord with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez who has been promoting the benefits of squad rotation for years.
The Spaniard has received widespread criticism for his reluctance to field a settled side over the years and has seen his tinkering constantly used as an excuse to explain the Reds' continued underachievement in the Premier League.
However, he has always insisted that every other top club follows a similar routine and believes that he has become the target for those wishing to undermine his Anfield regime.
"When I change people it is rotation, when other managers do it they call it resting people," was Benitez's take on the situation.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Sunderland |
| Wednesday 10th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs AaB |
| Saturday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Tottenham vs Man Utd |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | West Brom vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Liverpool |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 3rd December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 5 - 3 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 30th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 25th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 5 - 0 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 11th November | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 QPR | |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 5th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Celtic 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 4 - 3 Hull | |
| Wednesday 29th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 West Ham | |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 21st October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Celtic | |
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 4 - 0 West Brom | |
| Saturday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 30th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| AaB 0 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Tuesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 3 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 21st September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 17th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Villarreal | |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 15 | 34 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 15 | 33 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 14 | 28 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 15 | 26 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 15 | 25 |
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