Brilliant Berba talks to MUTV

Dimitar Berbatov has been the most divisive player at Manchester United ever since he swapped White Heart Lane for Old Traffod. An outrageously gifted player, his languid style, as well as apparent refusal to graft and hustle has divided Manchester United supporters like no other player past or present. His failure to score against both Chelsea and Blackburn after being presented with gilt-edged chances. prompted fans to boo him and the sensitive Bulgarian’s confidence and happiness obviously took a hit.Determined to prove his worth, the Bulgarian ran 6-mile routes several times a day during the summer and has made a great start to the season, scoring 6 goals already (half of last season’s tally) including a hat-trick against Liverpool.

Berbatov sat down with David Stowell of MUTV to discuss his football career and his time at United.

This interview was transcribed by Indy of the very excellent Simplyreds.com

To visit the site click here

http://www.simplyreds.com/manchester-united-blog/87-player-news/6551-the-dimitar-berbatov-interview.html

David Stowell (MUTV): When did you start playing football?

Dimitar Berbatov: It was way back when I was a kid playing in the neighbourhood with just a ball. I was around 15 years old when I got serious about football. I remember my father took mye to the trials for the academy and I was 2nd on the list to win a place.

DS: Both you and your father played for CSKA Sofia. Did you look up to your father?

My father is a hero of mine. He was a clever player and he was the type of player I like to watch. He could make a pass one way whilst looking in a different direction. I listened to his advice and his criticism so in other words he is one of my best friends.

The most important time of my life was when I was playing in Germany for Bayer Leverkusen. I was still young and didn’t know where I was going. I had to adapt to a new place and make new friends so it was very difficult but overall, those five years I spent there was one of the best times of my life.

DS: You played with a lot of foreign players but not necessarily from your own country. Did it feel lonely at times?

Yes, which is why I always say to the English players they are lucky they play in their own country. It’s been eleven years since I left Bulgaria so I’m pretty used to it now. I do miss my friends and family but it’s a normal feeling.  You realise that if you want to achieve something you have to be strong when you have periods like that.

DS: So would you say that your career really started at Bayer Leverkusen? Is that where you became the player you now are?

In Germany I learned how to be a man. I was around older players and they showed me how to develop as a person on and off the pitch. If you want to become a better person you need to learn and appreciate what other people say. With that and a bit of luck, you can go places.

DS: Some Manchester United fans saw you play when you and Bayer Leverkusen knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League Semi-finals.

That’s a story that the gaffer doesn’t want to hear too often so I never remind him about that. For Manchester United fans it was difficult but for us it was one of the greatest nights in Leverkusen’s history. It was a great team effort and we beat the best team in the world so it was fantastic. We had a lot of nights similar to this like the final against Real Madrid. We lost it to a fantastic Real Madrid team but the experience at 20-years old was unbelievable.

DS: You played with some great players at Leverkusen like Basturk, Ballack and Lucio. Did you learn a lot from the final and playing with these players?

There can only be one winner and unfortunately for us it wasn’t meant to be. When I think about the players that I played with at Leverkusen, if you put it back together it would be a fantastic team. Bayer Leverkusen have a policy of bringing through young players, developing them and selling them to bigger teams. They give a lot of chances to the younger kids which the gaffer also does here.

DS: When you moved to Tottenham, did you expect to have the impact you had?

No, I always think about the worst and hope for the best. I was hesitant before I moved because it was a different country. It was a difficult decision to move because I felt at home in Germany. Like I said, if you want to develop you need to make changes and in the end it was the right decision.

DS: Why did you come to the Premier League?

I just wanted to play on a bigger level. England seemed like a great place and Tottenham were the only club that made a real offer.

DS: What kind of things did you learn at Tottenham?

In England there is a lot of passion for football. You can see it in the fans, staff and the players. It gives you a positive energy and makes you work harder. It was strange at the beginning because it was totally different to Germany. From the way you train, the way you go to a game and how you prepare for a game. It was a new challenge and I was happy to accept it.

DS: How did you find out United were interested and how did the transfer happen?

I first heard through my agent like everyone does. I was in Bulgaira with some friends when he phoned me and said ‘Manchester United are interested in you’. I was like ‘Leave me alone and don’t joke about it’. My one goal to reach was to play for the biggest team in the world. When my agent said they were interested and I found out he wasn’t joking, I said yes. I was surprised but in truth I was expecting it because I worked very hard. I was sitting at home and thought that if I worked hard, with a bit of luck something like this might happen.

DS: The deal was done for big money so did you feel the pressure of that?

You try not to think about it but sometimes you can’t help it. You start thinking about the money and what will happen if you don’t prove you are good enough. It went through my mind and it can be bad for your concentration. It distracts you from the main goal to just play football and enjoy it. I just said to myself ‘relax and enjoy it because you are playing for the biggest club in the world’.

DS: I remember when you signed and it was late at night. When you signed did you think it was going to be difficult to fit in?

If you know me you’d think I’m a strange guy and you’d be right. I’m a shy guy and people don’t realise this if they don’t know me. I don’t like to socialise much because i’m a shy person and I’ll always be like this. I keep my closest friends with me and I find it difficult letting someone else come into my inner circle. That’s my main issue.

DS: Is it difficult in the English game with the media and their stinging criticism when you are a shy person?

If you give too much attention to the criticism then it’ll be bad for you. Everyone is free to say what they want. No one can take my smile away because I play for Manchester United and that was my main goal.

DS: We’ve seen some great goals and pieces of skill from you at United. What have been your favourite moments?

I enjoy every minute playing with the guys and training with them. When the game comes you look around and see great players. We’re not afraid when we step onto the pitch because with the players and staff we’ve got, we’re the best team in the world.

DS: Do you feel you play differently at United to when you played at Tottenham?

No, different is when you have a bad game and think you can do better. If you underestimate your skill it can be bad but I know what I can do. Every player has bad moments so it’s normal. The main thing is to learn and stay strong.

DS: How do you prepare for a game?

Nothing special because i’m not superstitious. I just concentrate and don’t think about it the night before. When you step on the pitch I just concentrate and do my best for the team.

DS: Is it an exciting feeling for you when you step out onto the pitch?

It is especially as I’m a foreign player.  When I step onto the pitch I always look up and I see the Bulgarian flag hanging from the top of the stadium. It makes me feel proud that I represent my country for the biggest team in the world.

DS: When you play for United where you put yourself in the team if you could pick it yourself?

I’ve changed through the years so now I’m in a period of my career where I enjoy creating chances for others. Obviously I’m a striker and people expect me to score goals and I do enjoy that. However, to create a goal for someone else gives me a lot of pleasure. Creating a pass that no one else can see gives me a bigger feeling than scoring a goal. Not many people think like this.

DS: You mentioned you’ve changed the way you play throughout your career. Is that because of the players you’ve played with & managers you’ve worked with or because of yourself?

I changed myself because I always liked to play like this. You have strikers who wait the whole game for one chance to score. I’ve had games when I stand and do nothing, then the ball hits my knee and goes into the net That doesn’t make me feel happy because I want to play with the ball and make things happen. That’s the difference between a football player and a goalscorer. I don’t want to be just a goalscorer because I want to offer the whole package.

DS: Is there a particular type of player you like to play with up front?

No, if the player I’m playing with someone who knows the language of football then there is no problem. I like clever players who look one way and pass another way. Some players have that vision of knowing what’s around them and it’s the type of players I like.

DS: I remember two pieces of skill, one from the West Ham game against Collins. Do these things just happen?

They just happen and I don’t plan to do it. The skill against West Ham was something I’ve done in training a lot but in the game you never think you’re going to do it. It happens on the spot and it gave me a lot of pleasure. I watched the skill at home again and I felt like the luckiest guy in the world.

DS: When you became the all-time top goalscorer for your country, was it one of your proudest moments in your career?

Yes, it was a goal I put in front of me when I had 30 goals for the national team. I said at that moment that it wouldn’t be that difficult but in turns out it was very difficult. I felt focused and tried not to think about scoring in every game. When I broke the record I was very proud and I celebrated with my closest friends.

DS: When you broke the record, did it make the decision to retire from international football easier?

I promised myself that if I didn’t achieve anything with the national team by 30 years old, I would retire to give a chance to the younger players.

DS: What is your relationship like with Sir Alex Ferguson and what’s it like to work with him?

At first I was star struck and when you get to know him he’s a nice guy. When things don’t go well he’ll be aggressive but in a way to motivate you. He assures you that you can go onto the pitch to get the result.

DS: Many people call it the hairdryer treatment. Is that how he gets the best out of you or does he use a more gentle approach?

Every player is different so you need a different approach for every player. I try to learn how he motivates the players individually because it might be useful if I want to become a manager in the future.

DS: Have we seen the best of Dimitar Berbatov or is there more to come?

I always try to develop and be better than before. My goal is to do the best for the team until the day I retire.

DS: Will we ever see Dimitar Berbatov as a manager?

You never know and many players say they want to become a manager after they retire. It’s interesting to become a manager because the players talk about how they would manage in the future. You never know what the future holds but I’m optimistic.

DS: Do you think you would be a good manager?

I don’t know but I try to learn things here. I’m at the biggest club in the world so if I want to learn anything, I can learn it here. I remember how we train and how the boss treats the players.