SIR Alex Ferguson has admitted he failed to get the
best out of Dimitar Berbatov during his debut season with
Manchester United – because he played him in the wrong
position.
But Ferguson has backed Berbatov to justify his
club-record £30.75 million fee in the new season when he will be
pushed farther up the pitch into a more traditional centre-forward
role.
Ferguson said: “I expected the form we’ve seen from
Berbatov in pre-season so far.“Last season was a strange one for
him and maybe we didn’t use him in the right way.
We know exactly how to use him now – further up the
pitch, playing as a centre-forward. He will improve and I think he
will have a terrific season.”Despite helping United win a third
consecutive Premier League title, Berbatov endured a difficult
first season at Old Trafford after his controversial move from
Tottenham.He received criticism from some United fans, who
interpreted his languid style as a lack of effort and
commitment.
The Bulgaria striker scored only 14 goals – nine of
them coming in the League – in 43 appearances. The fans’ anger
reached a peak when he had a weakly-hit penalty saved by Tim Howard
in the FA Cup semi-final shoot-out defeat against Everton at
Wembley.
He was devastated when Ferguson then left him on the
bench for the Champions League final against Barcelona.But
Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Real Madrid has put more pressure
on Berbatov to improve his goal tally. And he has looked a
rejuvenated figure on United’s Far East tour, especially in the
final game in China on Sunday when he had a hand in five goals in
the 8-2 win over Hangzhou Greentown.