Wenger: Why I chose to play a full-strength team

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
26 Apr	1:30 PM	P	Middlesbrough (H)	2	0	Win

Manager Arsène Wenger reveals that he chose to play a full strength team against Middlesbrough because it was the best possible preparation for their Champions League tie against Manchester United.

Many fans and pundits thought that the Frenchman would be resting key player such as Francesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor, but both featured in the 2-0 win against Boro.

It remains to be seen if Wenger's decision is justified, but the team will certainly travel to Old Trafford on a high.

Wenger said: "It's better to win today than to lose and rest players. I believe the first part of today was to win the game – that's the best preparation.

"We have a young team and they recover well. It is very important to put a nearly decisive distance between us and number five, Aston Villa.

"I believe it was very important not to miss that opportunity today. It's not completely definite but 10 points with four games to go...

"We can focus now on maybe catching Chelsea because we play Chelsea at home.

"If you go to Old Trafford without belief you make it very difficult from the start.

"We'll go there with belief, with desire and with enjoyment as well. We enjoy being where we are."

User Comments

SPNJUSA

Posted on 27 Apr, 2009 at 03:38 PM - Reply

ALLEZ LES ROUGES!!! GO GUNNERS!!!

busterbuster

Posted on 27 Apr, 2009 at 02:10 PM - Reply

Based on his logic here, why didn't Wenger field a full strength side against Chelsea in the FA cup semifinal? It really disturbs me when managers think we don't pay attention, and just one week ago he fielded a suboptimal side in a huge match, and now he justifies the opposite.

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