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Dimitar Berbatov said his best form is yet to come after
two goals against Celtic took his season's tally to five since
moving to Manchester United from Tottenham Hotspur. Berbatov's
brace and a third from Wayne Rooney were enough to see off the
Scottish challenge at Old Trafford.
Carlos Tevez was named among the United substitutes and Berbatov
stressed the competition for places could only benefit his game. "I
will improve, that's why I am here, that's why I came here, to the
biggest club," said the Bulgarian. "Everything is working well.
"When you are here, you have no time to hide in a game, you
always have to give 100% and that is what I am doing. In the past
there were moments when I didn't give 100% but here I cannot hide
and I have to work hard to keep my place."
On the dubious nature of his goals Berbatov added: "It's not my
decision to make, I am trying to score, it's for the referee and he
said no offside."
Sir Alex Ferguson also brushed aside the controversy. "It is
good to get a break for a change," said the United manager. "You
accept these breaks. On Saturday we had a perfectly good goal
chalked off which would have put us 1-0 ahead in the first half.
Things like that can make a helluva difference."
Ferguson was delighted not only with Berbatov, his record
£30.75m signing, but also Rooney, who has scored nine goals in his
past seven games. "Berbatov produced some fantastic pieces of
football. The players now understand what kind of and how good a
player he is. Five goals already is a terrific contribution.
"Wayne scores in spurts, hopefully this one continues for quite
a while. He has natural energy. Sometimes he uses that wrongly, he
expends it all over the pitch but that is just part of his
enjoyment. He likes to play and be involved in the game all of the
time."
Ferguson said he expected Cristiano Ronaldo to be fit for
Saturday's meeting with Everton after the Portugal international
injured his kneecap late last night. "Ronaldo demanded to play
against Celtic, he had read in the papers that I said he might be
tired; he came to see me to tell me he wasn't tired."
Berbatov was withdrawn after his second goal as a precaution
with a minor hip complaint. Rio Ferdinand, who missed Celtic's
visit after picking up a groin injury in training on Monday, could
cause the manager more concern.
Ferguson's opposite number, Gordon Strachan, was perhaps overly
magnanimous and attempting to protect his own players when claiming
that United had produced "one of the best performances I have come
across in Europe". Strachan added that he was merely glad his team
were not embarrassed. "I am just happy it was not a rout," he said.
"Roma [conceded] seven here, for example."
Strachan was reluctant to criticise the officials, adding his
voice to those hailing Rooney. "The two goals were offside but I
won't sit here and scream about that," said the former Southampton
manager. "I am a football man and I know when I have been well
beaten. Two or three of our players showed they can play at English
Premier League level, it was a wake-up call for the others.
"I think Rooney is unplayable just now. We tried everything;
what we saw was a world-class player backed up by another couple of
world-class players and other international-class players."