- Premier League
Bebe: United failure my own fault
Manchester United outcast Bebe has put his failure to succeed at the club down to his own poor attitude.
The Portuguese forward, 22, arrived at Old Trafford out of the blue in August 2010 at a time when countryman Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow still loomed large over the club. But the pressure of a £7.4 million price tag and a lack of professional focus saw his career in England falter.
Bebe has not started a Premier League game for United and has spent this season on loan at Rio Ave. In an interview with Portuguese publication Maisfutebol he has explained his side of the story.
"I never took Manchester United seriously and never understood a word about what Alex Ferguson was saying," he said. "I thought: 'I'm here, I'm doing well and I don't have to try hard every day'. It was my fault. I was messing around too much."
Though he hasn't made an impact yet Bebe is determined to return to United and fight for a spot in the team, saying that he is still in close contact with members of Ferguson's staff.
"I want to go back and everything indicates I will," he said. "But if I don't play, I would prefer to go to another team. I want to continue to develop. I speak regularly with coaches. They want to know how I am doing. This motivates me and gives me hope."
Portuguese winger Nani has been heavily linked to a move away from United this summer and Bebe feels that an unfair comparison with Ronaldo has seen the player's development stifled.
When asked if he found Ferguson intimidating Bebe said: "Not at all, he criticises a player to help him, if he feels that player can achieve more.
"For example, with Nani this often happens - Mr Ferguson often finds fault with him, probably because he feels he could be at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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Premier League 2020/21
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 38 | 27 | 5 | 6 | +51 | 86 |
| 2 | Man United | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | +29 | 74 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | +26 | 69 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | +22 | 67 |
| 5 | Leicester | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | +18 | 66 |
| 6 | West Ham | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | +15 | 65 |
| 7 | Tottenham | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | +23 | 62 |
| 8 | Arsenal | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | +16 | 61 |
| 9 | Leeds | 38 | 18 | 5 | 15 | +8 | 59 |
| 10 | Everton | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | -1 | 59 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | +9 | 55 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | -16 | 45 |
| 13 | Wolves | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | -16 | 45 |
| 14 | Crystal Pal | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | -25 | 44 |
| 15 | Southampton | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | -21 | 43 |
| 16 | Brighton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -6 | 41 |
| 17 | Burnley | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | -22 | 39 |
| 18 | Fulham | 38 | 5 | 13 | 20 | -26 | 28 |
| 19 | West Brom | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | -41 | 26 |
| 20 | Sheff United | 38 | 7 | 2 | 29 | -43 | 23 |
