Olympics add 'complications', admits Sir Alex but Manchester United will field strongest squad in final DHL Tour ties

'COMPLICATIONS': Giggs could be out

By Mancunian Matters staff

Sir Alex Ferguson promises to use Manchester United’s strongest squad in final three pre-season fixtures – despite top players possibly being ruled out due to the Olympics.

The Reds are set to face Valerenga, Barcelona and Hanover 96 in the DHL 2012 Tour, and Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Nani and Patrice Evra are all set to play.

Sir Alex implied that the matches were vital ahead of United’s challenge to reclaim the title next season.

Speaking to MUTV, Sir Alex said: “They’ll have to play. There’s no doubt about that. We need to get those players up to the mark.”

However, the 70-year-old manager admitted that the Olympics may mean other first team players will not make a return in time.

“There’s a bit of a complication with the Olympic Games,” he said, predicting that Rafael, Ryan Giggs and Tom Cleverley could all be ruled out of the European ties.

“When they rejoin us will depend on how far they get in the competition but they won’t be with us for the European games.”

Many, including Sir Alex, predict Rafael to get to the finals with Brazil, and Cleverley may well make it through to finals with Team GB following their Uruguay match.

Cleverley comes up against Liverpool’s Luis Suarez tonight and has identified him as one to watch.

"Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Gaston Ramirez – they are all good players who can hurt us," said Cleverley, but said the team must remain positive and ‘go for the win’.

For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.