I completely understand how managers have a problem with their players suffering from fatigue, it's firm science. I disagree that you should ever want to lose as a result though. Yes, winning cup games means you play more games overall and suffer more fatigue increasing the chance of future defeats - but if the price of avoiding that is losing in the first place then what's the point? Surely the whole point of all of this is to win.
I can't bring myself to want us to lose, but I don't see the long term value in us winning. A paradox I suppose. If it was pure U23 throughout (if any progress was made) I'd be well behind it.