Dimitar Berbatov Needs To Step It Up

"His partnership with Wayne Rooney has yielded a solitary goal all season, and that was back in October. Then take into account that Berbatov's four goals in the Champions League all came in autumn against poor opposition—two against Aalborg and two against Celtic—and it becomes a little clearer why some Old ­Trafford fans have started to question whether the 28-year-old will come to be thought of in the same way as Juan Sebastián Verón."

There it was, the dreaded 'V' word. Not for the first time, Berbatov was compared unfavourably to United's last high priced disaster Juan Veron, a midfielder who rarely justified during his Manchester sojourn his billing as a world great.

The Bulgarian, seemingly taken aback by the welter of criticism, sought to convince his detractors.

"I like to play at the front but I also like to play further back sometimes, to play with the ball, to be the man who creates the attack," Berbatov told the Sun newspaper. "Occasionally, I even prefer to make assists rather than to score goals."

"That makes me enjoy myself, making the game with my passes and my vision."

Few of Berbatov's critics were impressed. To them, the player was a toxic asset. Even Sir Alex turned a deaf ear to his forward's pleas, refusing to select the Bulgarian in the Champions League semi-final and final.

United's humiliating Champions League loss to Barcelona, the departure of Ronaldo, and Tevez and the arrival of the injury prone Owen now present Berbatov with a priceless opportunity to redeem his status.

Surely, the Bulgarian's recruitment was influenced by the probable loss of the celebrated Portuguese winger and the Argentine forward. The United fan base now awaits evidence of Fergie's master plan.

Soon, the manager will reveal his hand and there can be no excuses this time. Berbatov now knows his teammates. He will benefit from a full preseason of conditioning and training. In Ronaldo's absence, Sir Alex will need his big players to steady nerves by showing their quality.

Berbatov will hope to be counted in such company. He must stay free of the minor injuries that blighted his first season.

The Bulgarian will need to show he can play and score goals alongside Rooney. Above all, Berbatov will need to step up and demonstrate that his undoubted ability is not lost amid the high pressure and high stakes of Old Trafford.

Last September, after his transfer to the champions was completed, a satisfied Berbatov outlined his ambitions.

"I hope my peak years are still to come," he said. "I'm 27 years old and now is my time."

United fans will pray that finally, Berbatov's time has come.

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