Berbatov - I need to change

Bulgarian still working to fit in at Old Trafford

Last updated: 2nd October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Berbatov - I need to change

Berbatov: Happy at United

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Dimitar Berbatov admits he still needs to change in order to fit in at Manchester United.

The Bulgarian failed to hit the heights expected of him in his first season following his £30.75million move from Tottenham last year.

The 28-year-old scored just nine league goals last term and came in for some major criticism from the Old Trafford faithful.

But Berbatov admits that it is him who needs to adapt to life at United.

"That is my fault, not theirs. It is me who must change," he said of the criticism.

"Manchester United are their club. They have treated me perfectly since I came.

"In my first year I was disappointed in myself. I need to say that.

"It was a big pressure for me and maybe I failed myself. I think I wanted to prove myself to these supporters.

"You must remember, they are used to Best, Charlton, Cantona. I am just Dimitar.

"I got a number of assists, but I must score more goals.

"I don't know what I am doing wrong sometimes. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's me... who knows?

"At nights I have stayed awake thinking, 'You could have done this instead'."

Berbatov has begun his second term in better fashion and has scored two league goals already.

"I am more pleased with my overall game in this second season already," he told The Sun.

"I feel that I have integrated myself better into the team. I am much stronger, much fitter. But I still wish I could score more."

Style

Berbatov admits his languid style has not always endeared him to the fans, saying: "This is my style of play. I don't run for no reason. I am always alert and ready.

"I looked at our ProZone stats and saw that I was ninth in distance covered.

"I am kind of a nerd. I looked at them too much, maybe. By the end of the season I was fourth. Maybe this season I will be first!"

He admits his hefty price-tag was also a heavy burden to carry, but he insisted that he was happy.

"Who can live up to that sort of money? Nobody can. If I think about that money it is crazy to me. I can't believe it," he said.

"I am playing with legends like Scholes, Giggs and Rooney. Being coached by a man like Sir Alex Ferguson. How can I not be happy?"

Click Here for Your Free Bet

Comments (49)

  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Ken Whitehead (Manchester United fan) says...

All Berbatov has to do is continue to set up goals like he did against Wolfsburg. He was just fantastic. He and Giggs seem to be forming a great partnership. I can't wait to see more!

Posted 15:02 2nd October 2009

Nikolai Trifonov (Manchester United fan) says...

Berba is a world class player, when he played at Bayern Leverkusen all top players, Ballack, Basturk, Lucio were amazed with his performance. He will adjust to the United's game and by the end of the season , when he plays against Barcelona or Real Madrid everyone will be proud of him.

Posted 14:55 2nd October 2009

. Catcher (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Liked him as a player at Spurs, was very disappointed with the way he left, showed very poor loyalty to the club that give him his chance in the premier league, Man u were not interested in him until he came to Spurs. COYS

Posted 14:53 2nd October 2009

Sie Eyland (Southampton fan) says...

I agree that Berba is a good player overall, but i don't think he's really amazing enough to ever become a Utd legend. He does have a good vision of the game, a few skillful touches & good passing ability but in my view, i would expect that as standard from any premiership footballer, let alone one costing £37m. There seems to be alot of argument about his work-rate and running stats - i agree simply running around doesn't make a great footballer, but if you're having a bad game skill-wise, then it makes sense to run abit more anyway just to cover your own back, as a good old English crowd always appreciates effort & determination. But he never seems to even do this. Sadly, i think the step from Spurs to Utd was unsuitable for him. Utd is a sheer quality team who ask for & need constant results from their players. If he'd stayed at Spurs, he could've become a premiership legend, whereas now he's in danger of being a one-season wonder, or a what-may-have-been kinda player. I don't think the Utd style of play is a system he fits into easily & i don't think he'll ever be great enough that Ferguson would rotate the squad & tactics around just to accommodate him. I could see him staying at Utd till end of season then moving to Italy for final of career.

Posted 14:40 2nd October 2009

Mike Jones (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I was furious with Berba's antics on that transfer deadline day, the way he took himself off to united without a fee being agreed showed what his character was all about. But do I miss him?? Definitely. His close control, his silky skills, his partnership with Robbie - he made watching an average team exciting. A player of his class would help us achieve our goal of top 4. United fans need to get off his back - on his day he will rip any team apart. I for one want to see the best of Berba again.

Posted 14:27 2nd October 2009

Rich T (Leyton Orient fan) says...

If United are such an 'average' team, why do they keep winning? I always thought liverpool fans as knowing their football, but not in this case. Berbatov is similar to Sheringham, a thinking player and they need the team to understand their style as much as them fitting in.

Posted 14:27 2nd October 2009

David Kilduff (Manchester United fan) says...

Which is why with our average team and average manager we have been successful, while Liverpool, with their clearly world class manager and players, haven't won the league in almost 20 years. You may say that you can't buy the European Cup, I agree. I would point out we won it 2 seasons ago, and got to the final last year. I would also point out that this season we are top of the ttable with a so far perfect record in Europe, while Liverpool cannot. If we are average, what does that make Liverpool?

Posted 14:12 2nd October 2009

Auden Dery (Chelsea fan) says...

Berbatov is never a lazy player. He is the sort of player player you need to have a technical eye to realize his contributions in the game. He is having a perfect technical touches which when utilized by his colleagues well, will always result in a goal. Sir Alex with never buy a player without good qualities. Whosoever said Man Utd will release Berbatov for £10million is only exaggerating. Berbatov is a talented player with good and great technical touches to the likes of C. Ronaldo. He is a player to always watch on the pitch. I equally never liked him until I took my time to analysed critically the nature of game he plays. Watch out for him if Man Utd is to impress this season.

Posted 14:04 2nd October 2009

Simon Cushen (Manchester United fan) says...

Did Berbatov not change the game against Wolfsburg when he came on???? He set up Valencia and Carrick. He was excellent. I think he is much better than Tevez. He also played great against Tottenham earlier. To that liverpool fan. Man utd dont buy the title. How much did scholes and giggs cost? Or gary neville or van der sar?? Liverpool spent £25 million on Torres and 20 million on Aquilani. Man utd also have the most successful manager in Premier league history!!! he isnt average. Lucas leiva is average and Liverpool's performance against Fiorentina was average.

Posted 14:04 2nd October 2009

Aman Gull (Manchester United fan) says...

In reply to Tez......Average?? and Lucas, Babel, Insua, Kuyt, Reira, Carragher and Skertel aren't?? You become the best player in a position and gain world class status by winning things and winning games consistently which Utd do. Premiership and Champs lge double is the pinnacle of modern football, we did that 2 years ago and nearly last season. Not too bad for an 'average' team!! Re Berbas, I went to the Wolfsburg game and he was class. We went up a gear as soon as he came on and the little flicks and tricks help the likes of Rooney, Giggs, Valencia, Carrick, etc to get their goals. I think he needs more goals but would be happy if he scored 10 goals but got 20 assists.

Posted 13:58 2nd October 2009

Joshua Flint (Stoke City fan) says...

Granted, Berbatov hasn't lit Old Trafford alight yet, but we know that he is skillful. Some comments suggest that Fergie doesn't play him against the big four teams. Last season he didn't get in because of a 4-5-1 system with Ronaldo as a focal point and Rooney out wide with Park or another winger on the right/left. The system's changed this year and considering Man Utd have only played Arsenal this season, it is too early to presume he only plays against the smaller teams, especially considering Fergie was imitating Wenger's 4-3-3 system in the aforementioned Arsenal game. I say give Berba a chance against Liverpool in a couple of weeks and see how he does. Then if he plays bad, criticism for his lack of goals could be worth mentioning.

Posted 13:50 2nd October 2009

Jonathan Day (Manchester United fan) says...

I love it when Liverpool fans go on about their 5 European Cup trophies its hilarious - 4 of them date back to 1984 and beyond - did we have even have shirt sponsors then? At least in the last 10 years United have won it twice and been in the final last year. Think that goes to show that Liverpool can't buy it or even be good enough to be compared to Utd for the European Cup in the modern game! Its like going on about Preston or teams like that because they dominated the league when the world was still in black and white!

Posted 13:43 2nd October 2009

Ian Allen (Manchester United fan) says...

Berbatov is world class but as he said he hasn't yet hit top form for united,he needs 2 to more invovled as he comes in and out to much in games. He needs to get back into the form which he had at Spurs and bring that along with more of a harder work ethic and he will be back up there with the best around. I love the typical Liverpool reply saying that we're average and slate all our players when they leave,ask a united fan if they think Tevez and Nistelrooy are average footballers and they will tell you they are world class but not a single fan touted Barthez as world class. C'mon united!

Posted 13:42 2nd October 2009

Tez Wilkinson (Liverpool fan) says...

Every player who goes to utd is touted as world class by utd fans,and often the "best in their position int the world".As soon as they leave they are slated.Bartez Veron Nistleroy Heinze to name but a few and now Tevez.Berbatov is average.Your whole team is average as well as your manager. Its your resources that make you a "BIG" team.You can buy the league but not the EUROPEAN cup as your record proves Blackburn leeds Arsenal Chelsea bought it too.Doesn1t make them great either

Posted 11:03 2nd October 2009

Dave M (Manchester United fan) says...

Don't you just hate the media and fickle Spurs fans? They took Robbie Keane back after his Kop exile, after mocking him at Liverpool and his poor goal return. He scored four great goals for them at the weekend and they act like nothing has happened. The truth is Berbatov doesn't get the credit he deserves; how do you think Cantona would have faired in the modern game? He'd have got the same treatment. His style is different, he thinks more on the pitch, and the result is a showreel of skill. Dimi doesn't need to worry, because real United fans love him and his contribution. Berbatov is one of the best players Old Trafford will ever see, and the closest thing to Cantona they'll ever see. I too hope he scores more, but I've always backed him and always will. He plays for us, he's one of us. I never liked that money-grabbing sulky rat Tevez from the start, and I'm glad he's gone. He was so false, so insincere. Owen will fill that role perfectly as you've already seen. With Rooney and Berbatov, Sir Alex has two of the elite in world football, in a team that is filled with elite footballers.

Posted 11:01 2nd October 2009

Carl Brown (Manchester United fan) says...

I disagree entirely Steve Greaves. We seem to have a belief in this country that you need to run around like a headless chicken for 90 minutes to be a decent football. Goodplayers make the right runs, the right touches and the right passes at the right time. Dimitar carries himself in a way that looks like he in not arsed, when he clearly is. Much in the same way Paula Radcliffe's running style makes it looks like she is struggling, yet she is usually way in front of most of her races.

Posted 10:59 2nd October 2009

Bady Soji (Manchester United fan) says...

Berbatov is a good player, but the truth is that there is a but in his case. He is worth over $35 million dollars and he doesn't score goals. what else would one or a team want from a striker. He is lazy and doesn't work hard. No offence but he isn't the quality we need.

Posted 10:59 2nd October 2009

Alun Howells (Manchester United fan) says...

Anyone remember Cantona running around a lot, effort is no substitute for skill. The man is a class act watch and enjoy. SAF would not tolerate a lazy player as some have suggested here.

Posted 10:57 2nd October 2009

Dave Bowden (Liverpool fan) says...

United fans defended Veron to the very end. Telling us all how class, and world class he was. And then he left. And the opinion, predictabely, changed. Berbatov only gets starts against the weaker sides. He's not even a first 11 player, for the top 4, or big European games. Says it all. Nice bloke, but doesn't score goals, doesn't do any work. You know, a few nice flicks will get you far. But seriously. I can't see him staying at United for that much longer. If they can get 10 million for him, I think Fergie would sell him now

Posted 10:56 2nd October 2009

Stephen Grant (Manchester United fan) says...

I am not a Berby fan to be honest and maybe its to do with the way he moves but the point is he needs to improve I am glad he is self critical and it shows that he knows he must improve. At 28 he should be the complete package now and not in two years time. I believe he will get a hatrick soon and then all we say about him will dissappear and be forgotten He is not Rooney who last season allowed Ronaldo to get all the glory but added a few goals himself. Berby needs to score like Owen once they do they will shine. Hopefully morning is breaking and its going to be sunny for those two players. When they do maybe the flamming press can stop talking about the extra special one Ronaldo. (we still love him) but he is gone so lets forget him in a nice way. Come on United playing mediocre at the moment but top of the league!!!

Posted 10:54 2nd October 2009
  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private