Alex Ferguson insisted he has no regrets about his line-up for Sunday's FA Cup semifinal defeat by Everton. Manchester United lost out on penalties after a goalless two hours, the PA said.
However, the outcome might have been much different had United fielded anything approaching their strongest side.
Instead, Federico Macheda was handed his first senior start, Fabio da Silva only his second, with Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Rafael da Silva and Anderson all included in what was one of the most inexperienced sides Ferguson has ever sent into such a major game.
Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson gestures ahead of their English Premier League soccer match against Newcastle United in Newcastle March 4, 2009
The United boss accepts defeat, even if his side were the better team, was bound to attract criticism.
But after such a hectic period, with more still to come, starting with Portsmouth in the Premier League on Wednesday, Ferguson is standing by his decision.
"I am absolutely convinced I picked the right team," he said.
"I have no regrets about it at all."
"I knew there would be some criticism because it did not work for us."
"But we are coming to that period now where it is game after game. It is all go and I need to pick the right teams."
"It is not nice to lose a semi-final and this one is no different."
"But there is enough freshness in the rest of the squad for Wednesday now, which is how we planned it."
All the senior players who spent the weekend back in Manchester, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar, are set to return against Portsmouth, with Ryan Giggs also set to be included after traveling to London but not even getting a place on the substitutes' bench.