After a stellar performance with Manchester United last season, life has become very hard for Dimitar Berbatov after his fall out with club coach Sir Alex Ferguson. However, with injuries to key players Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, Sir Alex will have no option but to start the 30 year old.
Trying to make little of their differences, Sir Alex has moved to re-assure all doubters that Berbatov is an important part of his future plans. Berbatov made his first start of the season for United in their 1 all draw away to stoke over the weekend and will be assured a start today when United host FC Basel at the Old Trafford.
As joint top scorer in the league last season, many people at least would expect Sir Alex to honor Berbatov by including him in his starting line-up. That however, is not the case as according to Ferguson the competition up front is tight.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Ferguson was quick to mention that Berbatov was still part of United’s future plans.
“Of course he’s got a part to play,”
“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.
“They understand that having a big squad gives them a better chance of winning things,” he said.
“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.”
That could be true however, the damage has already be done. Not only has Berbatov’s confidence been shattered but it also will be a very hard for him to regain the kind of match fitness that he needs to replicate the form he had last season.
That said, you can’t blame Ferguson thus far as his strategy seems to be working flawlessly. The Red Devils are on top of the Premier League standing with an obscene goal difference. The only question is whether Berbatov will make this opportunity count.
