• Premier League

Fergie to keep Berbatov in pursuit of 84-point target

August 6, 2011
Sir Alex Ferguson has no intention of selling Berbatov © PA Photos
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced this year's winners of the Premier League will have to get to 84 points to secure the title, and he confirmed he fully intends to have the aid of Dimitar Berbatov despite links to Paris St Germain.

Ferguson believes that Liverpool and Tottenham will join the top four this season to battle it out in what he describes as "the best product in football''. The United manager said: "To win the league in England is very difficult and it doesn't matter how you get the points, you just have to get them. You'll need 84 points to win the league next season - definitely.

"There will be increased competition in the league - I expect Liverpool to be better and added to the top four you have got Tottenham, although they have not done any buying this summer which is surprising, so you expect it's going to be a really tough league.

"You are looking at a top six fighting for a top four and that can only add to the excitement of the Premier League, which I think is the best product in the game now. In Germany next season all the season tickets are taken up in every ground and that will create a fantastic atmosphere in German grounds, but United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have full houses every week and I still think we are the best product.''

Ferguson dismissed reports linking PSG with a move for Berbatov as "nonsense'', adding: "There's no encouragement for us either.''

The United boss is also unconcerned about the effect of internationals taking place on Wednesday, just three days before the start of the Premier League season. "They have been doing it for two or three years now so why should it be any different this year?" asked Ferguson. "I've no issue with it, some players may need a game during the week. We may have two or three players that actually need 90 minutes.

"England have done their very best under the circumstances to reduce the playing time for players - there's no replays in the Cup or the semi-final of the Cup, it goes to penalty kicks, the European clubs don't come into the League Cup until the later stages.

"We are trying to condense the English game as best we can to help players because you can't keep on playing the number of games and it not having an adverse effect. But with more and more internationals something has got to give and that's a big issue.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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