Owen Hargreaves feels that squad rotation has become an integral part of top flight football.
Modern games dictates that players need to be rested
Owen Hargreaves feels that squad rotation has become an integral part of top flight football.
The Manchester United midfielder feels that it would be impossible in the modern game for a side to achieve success without changing the faces in their first-team at some point over the course of the season.
The England international knows what it takes to be a winner as well, having won a UEFA Champions League, four Bundesliga titles and three German cups during his time with Bayern Munich.
Injuries
As a result, he feels that anyone criticising the benefits of squad rotation are just searching for excuses after poor performances.
"I'd like to see a team try to play the same eleven all season," he told the
Daily Mirror.
"I really would. They'd be hanging by a thread by May. At least half of them would be injured."
Tempo
With United currently competing on three fronts, Hargreaves feels that the recent 4-0 demolition of rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup proves that the Red Devils are playing as well as any side in the country at present.
"The best performance for us this season was against Arsenal in the FA Cup and I don't think anybody made a foul," he said.
"If you up the pressure and the tempo, play at a high pace and have a go, then it is very difficult for any team no matter how technically gifted they are."
Booing
Hargreaves has won 39 caps for his country since making his debut under Sven Goran Eriksson in 2001 and at times found himself the target of terrace abuse.
However, now firmly established as key part of the England set-up, Hargreaves admits that he refused to let the detractors get to him during those difficult times.
"When the booing thing happened with England, it was more difficult for my mum and dad," he said.
"My brothers knew what I was like. I hated to lose. I would never give in, ever."
