Jean Tigana is ready to continue his policy of fielding a weakened Fulham team in the Worthington Cup tonight - even though his side face Liverpool at Anfield with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
The Frenchman has consistently rested first-choice players in the competition and made five changes when Fulham faced Derby in the previous round.
Promotion from Division One is his over-riding priority and nothing - not even the possibility of reaching the final of a major cup competition and winning a UEFA Cup place - will distract him.
But his counterpart tonight, fellow Frenchman Gerard Houllier, would be wrong to assume Tigana is not interested in progressing to the semi-finals.
Tigana said: 'I never go to a game and think it is possible to lose. I pick teams to win. But I do not have a first-team, I have 25 players and I do not know exactly who I will play against Liverpool.
'I need many players with a good attitude, that is important. There are lots of games and I prefer to rotate players before they get tired or injured.
'I have used squad rotation so far in the competition and anything is possible tonight. Liverpool will be an interesting game but it is only important to check the level of the team to see if they can play in the Premiership next season. For me the priority is to be promoted.'
Squad rotation has characterised the Worthington Cup again this season with clubs such as Manchester United and Arsenal playing their youngsters.
Houllier has refused to follow suit, his team beating Chelsea 2-1 and thrashing Stoke 8-0 on the way to the quarter-finals.
But he is not averse to resting players and was roundly criticised when his decision to leave out Emile Heskey against Ipswich at Anfield on Sunday was followed by 1-0 defeat for the Merseysiders.
The omens for a tie featuring two full-strength teams at Anfield tonight, then, are not good. But both managers prefer an attractive style of play and the match will be Fulham's sternest test since Tigana took over in the summer.
When he arrived he introduced a raft of training methods which centred on a detailed, individual plan
He enlisted the help of doctors, dentists and fitness experts used to working with Olympic athletes.
Christian Damiano, one of the key architects of the tremendously successful French youth development system, became his assistant. Alongside Liverpool manager Houllier, he had overseen the development of such stars as Arsenal's Thierry Henry, and Fulham's previously under-achieving players soon felt the benefit.
Even the most disgruntled first-team squad member at Craven Cottage would admit he has improved as a result or at least enjoyed Tigana's training methods. It has shown, too, on the field, where a team with only a few additions look like running away with the First Division title.
They are top, have a 10-point lead over second-placed Bolton and have received praise from all of their opponents.
'When I signed for the club I explained to the chairman that to be promoted is the priority because we have not played at the top for a long time,' Tigana said.
'Things are going well so far and I am very pleased because the players have been happy to change to my style and that is very important to me.
'At the start I did not know whether they would. Some have played kick and rush for 10 years and they changed. Now they know it is possible to win promotion.
'Still, I did not expect to be doing so well so quickly. It was a journey of discovery for me and I had to adapt too.'
The Frenchman is determined to echo the success of foreign coaches Arsene Wenger and Gianluca Vialli in this country.
Like Italian Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea, Tigana has been learning English since his appointment and now has a very good grasp of the language.
He insists on the players using the home language in the changing room and will only ask his French-speaking players to translate very occasionally.
'My only problem is I do not speak English well and it is difficult sometimes to understand and explain exactly what I think,' he said. 'I need to progress quickly but I do not have the time because I spend all my time working for the club.
'It is frustrating and I want to give more but sometimes I do not know the words.
'I think the whole club can progress together with my philosophy quicker when I speak English better.
'I am not interested in other clubs but Ranieri, I am sure, will speak English within a few months because he is a clever man and can adapt.' Tigana has shown he, too, can adapt and add a continental influence with some success.
He added: 'I never relax. The pressure comes with the job for me and my staff and it does not change. But I have the habit from playing at the top level and I know exactly when to relax. I have to make up for lost time here.'
Source soccernet by Leo Spall