The former Manchester United man analyzes the news from his former club a few hours before visiting the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
When Dimitar Berbatov joined Manchester United in 2008, they had just been crowned Premier League and European champions. He entered a dressing room that included Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez. After helping United’s preeminence under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning two Premier League titles, two League Cups and reaching the Champions League final twice, the Bulgarian is unimpressed with the team’s performance this season.
Erik ten Hag has won the Carabao Cup, guided United to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League, who now play against Sevilla with the second draw this Thursday after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Old Trafford last weekUnpleasant. The Red Devils are on course to finish in the top four and return to the Champions League. But for Berbatov it is not enough.
‘Manchetser United must fight for important things’
“Is it crazy? In my mind United should be fighting to win the Premier League like they used to,” Berbatov told GOAL.com on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “Obviously times have changed, the power in football has shifted. But for United this shouldn’t be a great success – they have to fight for the important things again and again.”
For Berbatov, United’s draw against Sevilla shows they still have to improve under Ten Hag. “When I talk to people and tell them stories about my time at United, the word I always say is focus. Because it’s the word Sir Alex told us just before we went on the pitch, focus until the end of the years 90.” 95 minutes “This is sometimes the problem, the lack of concentration when you win 2-0 and you think the game is over. Well, it’s not over yet. It’s not closed when you play against someone like Sevilla.”
The need for a center striker
Berbatov, who scored 56 goals in 149 matches with the ‘Red Devils’, has no doubt what they are missing. “I think they need a striker. Someone who can score goals,” he says. “You buy a striker and say this is the player who is going to contribute 25 goals to the team. “They need someone like that. They need to look for a class scorer.”
Kane, a good option but with the age problem
Berbatov likes Harry Kane as United’s solution, although he doesn’t see the England captain leaving Tottenham and sees a risk given Kane’s 30th birthday in July. “You can’t argue with Harry Kane’s scoring record. He’s one of the best of his generation in how he scores goals, how he sees the game. And he’s incredible,” he says. “But the only setback I see is his age, he has it [casi] 30 years old and doesn’t have much margin. And in my mind, this will be a huge setback if anyone wants to sign him. “I think he will stay at Tottenham because his legacy is too big in this team. He is the club’s all-time top scorer, he is also England’s top scorer. He is a captain. When you say Tottenham, the first thing is that comes to mind I think of Harry Kane. So that legacy is too big to contaminate. If he goes to another club I don’t think anyone associated with Tottenham will make him happy. Anyone would be disappointed.”
Osimhen, the best option
After ruling out Kane, Berbatov offers United’s best option – Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian has scored 21 Serie A goals this season and has guided Napoli to their first title since 1990 and is still 24, with his best years ahead of him. “It’s very difficult because you need someone who is going to score goals. Someone who is at the right age so that he can develop and improve more and more. So you have to have him for many more years. In my opinion, the best option is Osimhen,” says Berbatov. “He’s having an incredible season and doing great things. So this is the type of player I’d like to see at Manchester United.”
Ronaldo deserved more respect
Berbatov emphasizes how important it is that a star striker is a good fit for United. Which brings you to Ronaldo’s return to the club in 2021, which has been disappointing. For Berbatov, the story of Ronaldo’s comeback was a case of mismanagement. “I don’t think it was a mistake because in the first season he scored a lot of goals. In my opinion, that story was about a misunderstanding, a miscommunication and a lack of respect on both sides at the end. If you’ve seen any of Ronaldo’s stature, who is a living legend in football, you have to show him respect,” he says. “You have to talk to him all the time. If he is not playing, you have to tell him and explain why you are not letting him play. He has to feel special because he is special. Players like this deserve it.” status in football, and you have to take that into account. If you don’t show it, things like this happen.”
He recommends “simplicity” to Antony
Berbatov speaks to GOAL two days after United’s 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest, a match in which Antony finally showed why the club paid £85 million for him and why he is such a valued player for Ten Hag, who worked with him at Ajax. “We all want results right away, but sometimes you need time to get used to a different league, a different club, a different way of playing football,” says Berbatov. “I would like to see Antony play exactly like he did against Nottingham Forest. And that pass he gave to Diogo Dalot, that’s pure football. This is how football should be played, filtering the ball across the ground between defenders. This was for me the best moment of the game.”I don’t think he lacks confidence. But this should give him even more confidence to move forward and believe in himself because he has such great talent. You don’t have to do a lot of tricks with the ball, sometimes you just don’t lose it. Sometimes the simple things are great, like that pass.”
“Sancho can do more”
Another player still trying to do his best at United is Jadon Sancho. The winger has shown only a glimpse of the player he was at Borussia Dortmund in his two years at Manchester and Berbatov can’t explain why it’s not working. “Why isn’t he successful? He needs to give these answers. He’s a great player and he’s got the dribbling, the ability, the speed, he can score and also provide assists. What’s missing? It’s something they need to work on in training “He has to work on what is missing himself. “I would like him to stay because I think he can improve a lot. With Sancho on the left and Antony on the right, you have speed, you also have Rashford, you have Martial, this is a very talented group.”
Improve in the third season
Berbatov knows it takes time to adjust to a new team. Despite having two very good seasons with United, it wasn’t until the 2010/11 season, his third, that he showed his best, scoring a hat-trick against Liverpool and five goals against Blackburn.
He finished the campaign as the Premier League’s top scorer with 20 goals. “That’s a good example. Because Sancho is in his second season and I got my best version in the third, so let’s hope the third is the best for him,” says Berbatov. “There is no specific reason. I think some players need a little more time, others not so much. Some don’t work even if they stay longer than five years. I don’t have an answer, I just know what’s going on with I hope that May Sancho’s third season will be the best.
Dimitar Berbatov and Ben Foster starred in Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s advertising campaign for the Europa League this season 2022/23, which is titled “Mission Masterclass”. You can watch the full episode here.
Source: Goal