Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has insisted the number of changes he has made for the visit of Watford have nothing to do with the impending FA Cup final with Chelsea, rather with the fact that several fringe players deserve to start the final Premier League game of the season.

Here it is – our final starting XI of the 2017/18 @PremierLeague season! #MUFC #MUNWAT pic.twitter.com/PvLU3Ahnp8

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 13, 2018

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“The match (cup final) is next Saturday so I’m not concerned about that. I’ve made lots of changes in the team not because of that,” Mourinho insisted ahead of kick off.

“I’ve done it because I think in these last few matches of the season everyone deserves a start. Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian, they deserve. That’s why I haven’t brought in any young players because my players deserve that.”

The aforementioned trio has found playing time hard to come by this season and are odds on to depart the club in the summer, despite Mourinho’s magnanimous decision on Sunday.

A notable omission from the Matchday squad is French winger Anthony Martial, but Mourinho revealed the 22-year-old had gotten injured and hence, could not feature.

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However, despite that revelation, Martial is another player almost certain to leave the club after growing disillusioned under the Portuguese tactician.

Mourinho had already confirmed regular custodian David de Gea would be rested in favour of Sergio Romero and the Portuguese followed up on his promise by starting the Argentine shot-stopper.

“Sergio Romero is another one; he’s still trying to get a position in the World Cup so it’s for them, it’s for Michael (Carrick). But as I always say, even if you are not fighting for anything – because we are second even if we win or lose – we are playing to try to win a football match.”

Mourinho hinted that despite giving the retiring Carrick a start on his final Premier League appearance, he didn’t expect the 36-year-old to complete the 90 minutes.

“I don’t think Michael knows how to play bad,” Mourinho asserted as he continued,  “I know he’s going to do a good job for his team. I’m not sure if he can do it for 90 minutes, but even if he can, I will bring him off so he can come off on his own. I will have  (Ander) Herrera or (Paul) Pogba to replace him and he can leave the pitch on his own. That’s for him and the fans.”