Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists his players understand the need for rotation, even if they do not accept it.

Ferguson dropped Carlos Tevez to the bench for Sunday's draw at Chelsea and Jonny Evans is bracing himself for the axe against Bolton tomorrow as Nemanja Vidic returns from suspension.

There is also a possibility Wayne Rooney or Dimitar Berbatov could be left out at Old Trafford as Ferguson tries to spread the load across his vast squad.

Rooney in particular has never made any secret of his desire to play at every opportunity and it is hard to envisage the England star reacting to news he was being left out with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders.

But Ferguson is happy at such a stance. There is no way the United boss wants a squad full of players happy to be left out.

"If you want to make sure you win something, you need a strong squad," said Ferguson. That has paid dividends for this club, and others who have the same mentality."

He added: "The players understand it when they are left out from time to time but it doesn't mean they accept it. They might do three days afterwards or three days before. They might know it has to be done and understand the mechanics of it.

"But they don't like it. I don't mind that. I would rather that than players who are quite happy to sit on the bench."

Ferguson has a big squad to choose from as well given only Michael Carrick and goalkeeping duo Tomasz Kuszczak and Ben Foster are missing from his senior men.

Rodrigo Possebon is absent too, although the damage to the young Brazilian's leg is nowhere near as bad as Ferguson feared when Emanuel Pogatetz thundered into him during Tuesday's Carling Cup win over Middlesbrough.

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