Fergie denies Giggs spat

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson leaves the pitch after a 3-0 win over Everton during their English Premiership football match at Old Trafford. Ferguson has rubbished suggestions that he had a bust up with veteran winger Ryan Giggs before the game

Sir Alex Ferguson has rubbished suggestions that he had a bust up with veteran winger Ryan Giggs before Manchester United’s 3-0 victory over Everton.

The Old Trafford manager’s team selection raised a few eyebrows as he made five changes to the starting line-up that had drawn 1-1 with Chelsea on Sunday and it looked to have backfired early on United struggled for fluency.

However, the main talking point was the absence of Giggs on his 33rd birthday and there were rumours he had reacted angrily to being held culpable for the goal that allowed Chelsea to secure a point.

But Ferguson was quick to defend his decision and, with a vital Champions League game against Benfica next week, he insisted that it was important to keep his squad fresh as they enter a crucial period of the campaign.

Ferguson said: "I told Ryan Giggs on Sunday that he wouldn’t be playing today. He is 33 today and you have got to look after the old species!

"I felt that we needed to change the team because we are playing Benfica next Wednesday and we couldn't afford to have them going into that game cold. Some changes were forced on us, like Nemanja Vidic, who had taken an elbow to the jaw.

Manchester United's Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (R) celebrates scoring with teammate Rio Ferdinand during their English Premiership football match against Everton at Old Trafford, Manchester, northwest England. Manchester won 3-0.

"We thought it was fractured and we sent him for an x-ray but fortunately it is not. It’s just very, very tender and we had to leave him out. Playing Ronaldo was a bit of a risk and he had to come off eventually. But he wanted to play and that’s good."

Ronaldo set United on their way to a victory that keeps them three points clear at the top of the table with a superb goal in the 38th minute before Patrice Evra and John O'Shea wrapped up matters in the second half.

Ferguson added: "It was important to get the goal before half-time. James Beattie has got a fantastic spring and the lad caused us a lot of problems with that. Everton played well around that and we needed a break through.

"We were starting to get some pattern to the play before the goal but it was a fluent display. The goal just settled us down. When you make a lot of changes, you are not going to get the flow of the game that you had before.

"I thought we were okay because we had a lot of athleticism in the team and a lot of players wanted to do well.

Everton manager David Moyes, meanwhile, claimed the result was not a fair reflection on the game and was more than happy with the way his players acquitted themselves, particularly as they have key players Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson injured. Between them, they have scored 13 of Everton’s 18 Premiership goals this season.

Manchester United's John O'Shea (L) celebrates his goal and United's third against Everton during their English Premiership football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, northwest England. Manchester won 3-0.

Moyes said: "I thought we played quite well. I certainly didn't think it was a 3-0 defeat. I thought that we were well in the game before they scored their first and we tried as best we could to get a goal back.

"We were doing what we could when they got their second. I’m pleased with what the players have done. This is a hard place to come but I didn't think that was fair on Everton tonight. We had a few players out who are important to us."