Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has admitted he
expects to do better for the Red Devils ahead of the start of the
new season.
Sir Alex Ferguson splashed out a club record £30.75million to
lure the Bulgarian north from Tottenham last summer.
Although Berbatov was good in patches, finding the net on 14
occasions, largely his debut campaign for the Old Trafford outfit
has been written off as a disappointment.
In fact, failing to make the starting line-up for the Champions
League final defeat to Barcelona in Rome led some to suggest
Berbatov might be sold on, less than 12 months after his
arrival.
Yet it seems Ferguson has certainly not lost faith in Berbatov's
silky skills.
If anything, the 28-year-old is now an even more important
figure for the Red Devils given Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez
have left for pastures new.
It just increases the pressure a notch, not that the ultra
laid-back Berbatov has ever given any indication of being affected
by such trivialities.
However, he does concede the need for improvement. And he
expects it to come.
"I think I can do better," he told MUTV. "I think I can do more.
That's why I am happy to be here on the pre-season tour.
"It is always beneficial to start well and have a good
pre-season and I feel I am training well at the moment.
"I am here to score goals and I hope to score more and more for
United this season."
Berbatov has yet to open his account on a tour that, after two
matches against a Malaysian outfit, now sees United tackle FC Seoul
on Friday in a game where Park Ji-sung will undoubtedly be the
centre of attention.
Given Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Federico Macheda have all
found the target, Berbatov is playing catch-up in the personal
scoring duels.
Yet, as Ryan Giggs knows only too well, for United life at the
moment is about getting used to operating without the talents of
Ronaldo and Tevez.
The departed duo were major inspirations behind United's
Champions League-winning campaign two seasons ago. And while Tevez
ultimately left in bad-tempered fashion, annoyed at his lack of
first-team opportunities, Ronaldo was also a key figure in a third
straight Premier League title last term.
However, in his 18 years as a United regular, Giggs has seen
countless stars come and go. On each occasion, the Red Devils have
responded in the perfect manner.
And the Welsh veteran can see no reason why it should be any
different this time round.
"Since I came into the team the likes of Bryan Robson, Mark
Hughes, Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane and David
Beckham have left the club," he said.
"But that is what the manager is so good at - reshaping and
re-energising the team.
"Carlos and Cristiano were great players but we move on. As
players it's like ships in the night. You just get on with it."
