Oct 2 2009, 11:45 AM
Ignore the title.. it was Neil Custis of The Sun.
QUOTE
DIMITAR BERBATOV admits he was a failure in his first season with Manchester United and the stress of it all gave him sleepless nights. In his most revealing interview yet, the Bulgarian striker also describes how self doubt and the spectre of legends at Old Trafford have plagued him.
Berbatov, 28, said: "In my first year I was disappointed in myself. I need to say that. "It was a big pressure for me and maybe I failed myself. I think I wanted to prove myself to these supporters. "You must remember, they are used to Best, Charlton, Cantona. I am just Dimitar. "I got a number of assists, but I must score more goals."
Berbatov admits things got so bad for him last season as the critics began to round on him that he would lie awake at nights. He added: "I don't know what I am doing wrong sometimes. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's me... who knows? "At nights I have stayed awake thinking, 'You could have done this instead'."
The former Bayer Leverkusen ace also concedes he struggled to control his nerves. He said: "My nerves were too much and that is my responsibility."
Berbatov has made 53 appearances for United - scoring 16 times - since his £30.75million switch from Tottenham on transfer deadline day in August last year. Two months into his second season he still splits opinion among United fans, with some seeing the clever flicks as inspirational and others seeing his languid style as just plain lazy. The accusations he was not trying reached him, though, and began to affect him to the point he had to check the statistics to see if it was true.
Berbatov revealed: "I will be honest. This criticism did affect me, but not in a negative way. "I looked at our ProZone stats and saw that I was ninth in distance covered. "I am kind of a nerd. I looked at them too much, maybe. By the end of the season I was fourth. Maybe this season I will be first!" But Berbatov has failed to shrug off the reputation of being lazy on the pitch. He said: "This is my style of play. I don't run for no reason. I am always alert and ready."
But Berbatov recognises some fans have not been happy with him since he arrived and insisted: "That is my fault, not theirs. It is me who must change. "Manchester United are their club. They have treated me perfectly since I came."
Berbatov scored his second goal of the season when crucially breaking the deadlock at Stoke last Saturday. United went on to win 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium to go top of the Premier League. But while he is more satisfied now with his game in general, he admits the goalscoring tally must increase. He added: "I am more pleased with my overall game in this second season already. "I feel that I have integrated myself better into the team. I am much stronger, much fitter. But I still wish I could score more."
Berbatov says the pressure does not come from his huge price tag because he believes it is totally unrealistic. He said: "Who can live up to that sort of money? Nobody can. If I think about that money it is crazy to me. I can't believe it." The striker often looks as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders but he maintains that inside he is enjoying himself. He added: "I am a footballer playing for the best club in the world. "I am playing with legends like Scholes, Giggs and Rooney. Being coached by a man like Sir Alex Ferguson. How can I not be happy?"
Berbatov may not have won over all the supporters but he certainly has impressed strike partner Wayne Rooney. The England star is full of praise for Berbatov and said: "He is playing some good football and has had some unfair criticism. "Sometimes with his body language it doesn't look as though he's working but he is. And he showed some fantastic touches and created some great opportunities for our team against Wolfsburg when he came on."
Rooney also insists United have shown their critics there is life after Cristiano Ronaldo. And he believes the squad have responded to the wing wizards's £80m departure to Real Madrid by playing more as a team. He said: "Yes, we lost to Burnley but we have won every game since and yet this week still got criticised. "We are playing different football. Obviously last season the team was based a lot around Cristiano but this year there are a few more players chipping in with goals, which is great to see."
And Rooney said: "It's no surprise to see how well Cristiano is doing at Real. He's rightfully the best player in the world and I'm sure he'll continue to do well."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport...a-Utd-flop.html
Berbatov, 28, said: "In my first year I was disappointed in myself. I need to say that. "It was a big pressure for me and maybe I failed myself. I think I wanted to prove myself to these supporters. "You must remember, they are used to Best, Charlton, Cantona. I am just Dimitar. "I got a number of assists, but I must score more goals."
Berbatov admits things got so bad for him last season as the critics began to round on him that he would lie awake at nights. He added: "I don't know what I am doing wrong sometimes. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's me... who knows? "At nights I have stayed awake thinking, 'You could have done this instead'."
The former Bayer Leverkusen ace also concedes he struggled to control his nerves. He said: "My nerves were too much and that is my responsibility."
Berbatov has made 53 appearances for United - scoring 16 times - since his £30.75million switch from Tottenham on transfer deadline day in August last year. Two months into his second season he still splits opinion among United fans, with some seeing the clever flicks as inspirational and others seeing his languid style as just plain lazy. The accusations he was not trying reached him, though, and began to affect him to the point he had to check the statistics to see if it was true.
Berbatov revealed: "I will be honest. This criticism did affect me, but not in a negative way. "I looked at our ProZone stats and saw that I was ninth in distance covered. "I am kind of a nerd. I looked at them too much, maybe. By the end of the season I was fourth. Maybe this season I will be first!" But Berbatov has failed to shrug off the reputation of being lazy on the pitch. He said: "This is my style of play. I don't run for no reason. I am always alert and ready."
But Berbatov recognises some fans have not been happy with him since he arrived and insisted: "That is my fault, not theirs. It is me who must change. "Manchester United are their club. They have treated me perfectly since I came."
Berbatov scored his second goal of the season when crucially breaking the deadlock at Stoke last Saturday. United went on to win 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium to go top of the Premier League. But while he is more satisfied now with his game in general, he admits the goalscoring tally must increase. He added: "I am more pleased with my overall game in this second season already. "I feel that I have integrated myself better into the team. I am much stronger, much fitter. But I still wish I could score more."
Berbatov says the pressure does not come from his huge price tag because he believes it is totally unrealistic. He said: "Who can live up to that sort of money? Nobody can. If I think about that money it is crazy to me. I can't believe it." The striker often looks as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders but he maintains that inside he is enjoying himself. He added: "I am a footballer playing for the best club in the world. "I am playing with legends like Scholes, Giggs and Rooney. Being coached by a man like Sir Alex Ferguson. How can I not be happy?"
Berbatov may not have won over all the supporters but he certainly has impressed strike partner Wayne Rooney. The England star is full of praise for Berbatov and said: "He is playing some good football and has had some unfair criticism. "Sometimes with his body language it doesn't look as though he's working but he is. And he showed some fantastic touches and created some great opportunities for our team against Wolfsburg when he came on."
Rooney also insists United have shown their critics there is life after Cristiano Ronaldo. And he believes the squad have responded to the wing wizards's £80m departure to Real Madrid by playing more as a team. He said: "Yes, we lost to Burnley but we have won every game since and yet this week still got criticised. "We are playing different football. Obviously last season the team was based a lot around Cristiano but this year there are a few more players chipping in with goals, which is great to see."
And Rooney said: "It's no surprise to see how well Cristiano is doing at Real. He's rightfully the best player in the world and I'm sure he'll continue to do well."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport...a-Utd-flop.html
This post has been edited by Wan: Oct 2 2009, 11:52 AM
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