Silly Question, But How Is Mourino Is Allowed To Field A Weakened Team ?

[piggynose]

Against Liverpool? it didnt seem that long ago when it wasnt allowed, havent teams such as man utd been punished for this?

[Buenchico]

Premier League clubs now have to name a 25-man squad, which (theoretically, at least) allows for the rotation of players. Any team selected wholly from within that squad is deemed to be a full-strength side.

[Sqad]

Buenchico has said it well.........what IS a weakened side?
Take Chelsea's strike force.......which would be the weakest...Torres, Demba Ba or Eto?

You could go through the whole team in this manner.

The rotation system seems to have abolished the "weaker team" concept.

[Jomlett]

Mourinho says he's going to play a weakened side in Chelsea's match with Liverpool.

He is going to play without his star striker Fernando Torres.

Oh, wait a minute.....

[chelle7272]

lol Jomlett :)

[Ken4155]

He couldn't field his 'first 11' even if he wanted to. Terry, Czech and Hazard are injured whilst Ramires is suspended.

[factor-fiction]

I would be interested a link which shows that he said he would play a weakened side. I doubt he said this. He may have said he will have to rotate his players bearing in mind the other game but clubs do this all the time. If he uses his squad players and maybe the odd youngster I cannot see how any action would be taken, but I think he's just playing mind games

[bibblebub]

Apart from the fact that he hasn't named his team yet, the FA eased the rules almost 3 years ago http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14166038

[bibblebub]

^ it was the Premier League not the FA

[Ken4155]

I don't do links, ff, but i have just googled it and i have taken a couple of quotes from what he said at his press conference after the first leg. "My priority is the Champion's League" "I would play with the players who are not going to play Wednesday." Apparently Abramovich has given his blessing. As Buenchico says, if the majority are from the 25 man squad, there can be no complaints.

[Gromit]

The Premiership teams must be selected from their named 25 man squad. If it is then it it is a legitimate selection.

Manchester United (and others) have been criticised for using players from outside their Premiership 25 when they play in non Premier League matches such as the Carling Cup. I am not sure any have actually been fined though.

I think within the game people know that the Champions League is more important than the Premier League. Chelsea have a chance of winning both. They might not win either if they do not select their teams tactically. Saving players at the weekend to play the strongest team midweek is understandable, and I think most people accept why it is happening.

If they still win with a 'weakened team' well even better. If they lose, they have more or less sacrificed the Prem Title to Liverpool. If they progress firther in the Champions League, then it is deemed worth it.

[piggynose]

ok put it another way, is he going all out to beat liverpool today? i doubt it, hes so obsessed with the champions league, as he proved against c.palace, villa and sunderland.

[berniecuddles]

oh dear.... liverpool !

[tonyav]

Well, thats made things interesting.

[piggynose]

still speechless