Martin O'Neill 'learned lesson' over Aston villa UEFA decision
May 1 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp did likewise in the UEFA Cup against Shakhtar Donetsk, Bolton’s Gary Megson did the same at Sporting Lisbon last season and Blackburn’s Sam Allardyce was criticised for playing the reserves at Coventry in the FA Cup.
According to O’Neill, the key is winning. Ferguson got away with it in the League Cup when he rested Edwin van der Sar and played kids Danny Welbeck and Darron Gibson but he was heavily criticised in the FA Cup semis.
“Look at Manchester United, with all that squad,” said O’Neill.
“Sir Alex Ferguson said he could not possibly have played the same team that had won a couple of days earlier in the league at Wembley (against Everton in the FA Cup).
“He took criticism for not having his best side out against Everton, when they had a chance of winning all five trophies.
“Remarkably he did not come in for one ounce of criticism whatsoever when they played a supposedly weaker side against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup Final and won on penalties.
“What does that tell you? You have got to win.”
Fielding a weakened side of course is nothing new.
While manager at Leicester O’Neill made no apologies for fielding a weakened side at Highbury and virtually handing Arsenal the points in a 2-0 defeat just five days before the Foxes’ Coca-Cola Cup final replay against Middlesbrough.
