MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Alex Ferguson wants to rest Rio Ferdinand if his side qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds.
United can secure their place in the next round of the elite club competition with victory away to Portuguese side Braga tonight.
Ferguson has had to manage with a makeshift defence on occasion this campaign, with the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones all missing through injury.
With Smalling and Jones nearing a return, Ferguson is hoping that he will be able to rest Ferdinand in their group fixtures.
“The game in Braga will give me a chance to utilise my squad. I’ll be making some changes,” Ferguson told reporters. ”If we can get the win it’s better, but we want to make sure we qualify first. If we do, it gives me options to utilise Smalling and Jones.
“Then we can make sure that Ferdinand is fresh for all these games. I won’t have to worry about playing him Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday.
“That’s an important issue. I don’t expect Vidic to be back until Christmas so it adds back-up in that respect.”
