Sir Alex Ferguson insists he does not need to reassure Dimitar Berbatov regarding the striker's role at Man Utd this season.
United boss does not feel he needs to reassure striker
Sir Alex Ferguson insists he does not need to reassure Dimitar Berbatov regarding the striker's role at Manchester United this season.
Last season's joint leading scorer in the Premier League no longer appears to be first choice at Old Trafford and spent the opening weeks of the campaign on the bench.
He made his first start of the season in last week's Carling Cup win over Leeds United and also started Saturday's draw at Stoke City in the Premier League following an injury to Wayne Rooney.
Berbatov is likely to retain his place for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League tie with Basel after Javier Hernandez joined Rooney on the sidelines, but there remain question marks about the Bulgarian's future.
The 30-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, but United boss Ferguson has reiterated that Berbatov will get plenty of opportunities this term.
Exhausting season
"Of course he's got a part to play," said Ferguson. "He's one of our squad members and they've all got a part to play.
"We have a lot of games in the Premier League, Champions, FA Cup and Carling Cup. It's an exhausting season unless you use your squad.
"I don't have to reassure him. He knows his place in the squad and that applies to many players like Mame Diouf, Federico Macheda and Michael Owen. They're not playing regularly either.
"We've only had six Premier League games and the ones against Benfica and Leeds, so it's still early doors. There's plenty of time.
"It's hard because of the number of strikers we have. There's Rooney, Hernandez, Michael Owen is also there and we've got Welbeck, Macheda and Diouf, so it's not easy."
United have been in free-scoring form this season, but Ferguson does not necessarily believe the competition for places has been a factor in bringing out the best in his strikers.
He added: "I don't think that applies itself at all. They [the players] understand that having a big squad gives them a better chance of winning things.
"They accepted that a long time ago, the squad system, and they want to do well when they get the opportunity because, as a group, we all want to do well. So I don't have any issues with that at all."
