The UEFA official denied that Liverpool would be punished for rotating their side against Real Madrid.
UEFA President Michel Platini has demanded that Brendan Rodgers explain his team-selection to Liverpool fans, after the Reds fielded a weakened team against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Rodgers’ reserves actually put in a better performance than the first team did two weeks ago, holding Real to a 1-0 win, but UEFA boss Platini thinks that the Liverpool fans deserve an explaination for Rodgers’ decision.
“First of all, he has to explain to his fans why he put this team – not to me, not to you,” the Daily Telegraph quote the former France international as saying.
One of the rules of the UEFA compeitions is that clubs must:
“field their strongest team throughout the competition,” but Platini denied that his organisation would punish Liverpool:
SEE MORE:
NK Maribor v Chelsea: Live Football Streaming And Champions League Preview
Champions League Passers – European football’s most creative players.
Chelsea Anderson Talisca – Chelsea scouts watch Brazilian striker.
“Are you sure it was not the best team?… If I am the coach of Liverpool, I say, ‘It’s my best team. How can you prove it not [our[ best team?’ I can’t interfere with that.”
Rodgers’ team selection was presumably in preparation for Saturday’s match-up against Chelsea, and with Mourinho’s side playing tonight, the rested Reds will be at a significant advantage when they face-off.
Liverpool are now third in their Champions League group, and their next game in the competition, against Ludogorets on the 26th, is a true must-win if they are to stay in European contention.