Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has likened striker Dimitar Berbatov with Red Devils legend Eric Cantona for his match-winning capabilities.

However one area where the 28-year-old trumps the iconic Frenchman is his goalscoring record in European competitions.

Critics claimed that Cantona failed to take his inspired domestic form onto the European stage, scoring just five goals in 16 appearances from 1993 to 1997.

Berbatov has managed 32 goals in 57 European ties for CSKA Sofia, Bayer Leverkusen, Spurs and United and Ferguson is hoping that he can improve that record against Inter on Wednesday.

The Bulgarian's strike against Newcastle last week, his 13th of the season, was the fourth time since Christmas that he has scored a winner and it is for this reason why his manager has compared him with Cantona.

"Cantona used to score important goals and Dimitar does the same. He has scored four or five goals that have won us games now," he said in the Daily Express.

Emphatic

"If he keeps on scoring important goals then it is an emphatic result for us. He's well into double figures now and his is coming along nicely.

"He is finding his way to goal more which is something that doesn't surprise me as he scored more than 20 in each of his two seasons at Spurs.

"It has simply been a matter of him adjusting to our style of play along with our players getting to know his kind of game.

"He is a different type of player to what we had last season. He has got a patience and composure in the last third of the field that is helping us."

As well as his goals, Berbatov also has nine assists to his name, but he shies away from the comparison with a man who was voted the club's player of the century in 2001 by United fans and insists he is just happy if his boss is pleased with his performances.

"I am just myself. I don't want to be compared with anybody else, especially a legend like Cantona," he said.

"I don't play for myself, I play for the team. I always try to help my own team and team-mates. For me the only thing that matters is what the boss is thinking.

Enjoyment

"If he's happy, I'm happy as well. It's about enjoyment and winning games. When you win games you win trophies.

"I know some players like to give themselves a figure to aim for. That's not me. I just want to play my part in the team and help United win trophies with goals, assists and my play.

"I hope that people appreciate the assists as well as my goals because sometimes I take more pleasure making a goal than scoring myself.

"If you ask some of the guys here, I am the quiet one, I don't talk much. I prefer to listen and watch. I have been like that all my life but I don't make problems for anyone unless someone is asking for them ."

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he is trying to improve upon controlling his anger.

Ronaldo's treatment at the hands of opposition defenders has again been a focus of debate after an incident with Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor last week.

He has also escaped punishment himself this season after kicking out on several occasions, including clashes with Stoke full-back Andy Wilkinson and Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Michael Dawson.

The World Player of the Year accepts he is targeted by his opponents and also acknowledged his battle to keep his temperament in check.

Difficult

"I am a target of course, so it is difficult to avoid certain things," said Ronaldo in The Sun. "I try to control my anger. Sometimes it's not easy, though, and it is something I have to improve on.

"Sometimes it is difficult because of the atmosphere in the stadium and the importance of the game.

"I'm only 24, but I have a lot of experience of big games and that helps because you learn through situations.

"If someone kicks me, I get up and I go again. I am not afraid of being kicked, it is part of the game.

"I see it as a challenge that they have to kick me to stop me."

Confident

United face Inter in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday and Ronaldo is confident the holders can go through after a 0-0 draw in the first meeting in Italy.

He added: "We have to score now and we have to win. It won't be easy, but I am confident we will win.

"In the first leg we had clear opportunities and we should have taken them. But we have another opportunity and have our fans to back us up.

"It's hard to win the Champions League and the feeling it gives you is amazing. I want that feeling again and again."