• Premier League

Berba backed to fight on at United

ESPN staff
July 20, 2011
Dimitar Berbatov has been forced to dig deep in training © PA Photos
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Dimitar Berbatov has been backed to fight for his place at Manchester United by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Bulgarian's goals in the first few months of last season played a key part in United winning their 19th league title, but he was a fringe player in the second half of the campaign as Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney struck up a superb rapport.

Berbatov was not included in the squad for the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona and it was speculated that he would move on. Ferguson can understand why that would be suggested, but claims the forward has responded superbly in training and expects him to bounce back.

"Yes, I'd understand that but you could say that about them all," Ferguson said. "I don't pick the same team every week, do I? I've only done that once in the last three years.

"So they all understand it's the squad that wins the games, wins the cups and I've got a good squad. If you go back 20 years ago, they could never understand that. Whereas today they accept it and there's no problem."

Ferguson is happy with how Berbatov has responded to the challenge from Hernandez [Chicharito].

He said: "He's been brilliant, first class. His training has been terrific.

"It was straightforward. Chicharito hit such bloody good form that you had to put him in every game because he added so much

"It was unfortunate for Berbatov. It didn't make him a bad player, he was just an unlucky player in that this lad came in."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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