Fergie - Berba is not lazy

United boss defends languid striker

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 4th January 2009

Fergie - Berba is not lazy

Berbatov: Grafter

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Dimitar Berbatov against accusations that he does not work hard enough.

The Manchester United striker has built up a reputation for being idle, drifting in and out of games when the mood takes him.

However, his Old Trafford boss believes this moniker is unfair on a man who grafts as much, if not more, as any of his contemporaries.

Ferguson admits that he is not normally one to look to statistics to back up his point, but believes a glance at the yardage covered by Berbatov in any given game demonstrates just how workmanlike the former Tottenham man is.

"I don't agree with the criticism that he slows us down. I don't agree with that at all. In fact, I don't think we have used him enough," the Red Devils chief said in the Daily Star Sunday.

Incredible

"He's fine. It's like everything else. Whenever a player comes here, if there's a way of criticising him, they will find it.

"They are saying he's this and he's that. But his stats are incredible.

"He did more running (against Middlesbrough) on Monday night than any other front player, including (Wayne) Rooney.

"I think it's the languid style of his that's the problem. The stats, though, would surprise you. They don't surprise me.

"I don't always pay attention to stats, to be honest, yet it's good to know in this case."