N.Warnockas praises "Liverpool" and "Man Utd" © EuroFootball.com

Former Premier League coach Neil Warnock criticized Rafael Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson for fielding weaker teams at the end of the season against teams fighting for survival alongside Sheffield United.

Warnock's team lost at home 2-1 to Wigan on Sunday and dropped to a lower league due to a worse goal difference. Sheffield United would have needed a draw in these matches to remain in the league.

Warnock was angry about the lineups that Liverpool put out in their match against Fulham on May 5, as well as the lineup that Manchester United lost to West Ham with on Sunday.

"Eventually, it all turns against you, maybe Chelsea will win the FA Cup, and Milan the Champions League," said Warnock, referring to Liverpool facing Milan in the Champions League final and Manchester United facing Chelsea for the FA Cup.

Ahead of Sunday's match against West Ham, Manchester United had already secured the title, while their opponents needed at least a point at Old Trafford to secure their place in the league.

Meanwhile, Liverpool had been focusing solely on the Champions League in recent weeks, so Fulham secured their place in the league a week ago by defeating a far from strongest Liverpool squad.

"I was disappointed by the lineup of Manchester United," said Warnock. "You could have expected Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, and a few other players in the final games of the season. I think Sir Alex Ferguson fooled me midweek, saying he would field the strongest lineup."

"On the other hand, he has his reasons for such a decision," said the coach. "Maybe the FA Cup is more important to him."

"But at least I knew the players who played for Manchester United, while I didn't even know two players from Liverpool's lineup against Fulham. I've never heard of them," the Englishman added. "But being a foreigner, Rafael Benitez probably doesn't care what Sheffield United thinks."

However, the seasoned coach admitted that the loss to Wigan, who finished tenth in the league, on Sunday was very painful. "Survival would have been the biggest achievement of my career," added the coach, whose players almost shook the crossbar of the Wigan goal at the end of the match.