After missing out on a place on the bench for the European Cup final, despite being the league’s top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov confessed he was too upset to leave the dressing room. Whilst there were lots of disappointed players that day, none of them would have been as shocked as Berba was to learn he was missing from the squad.

Sir Alex Ferguson has again explained his decision to leave Berbatov out of the team, whilst praising the Bulgarian for his attitude since.

“It was straightforward last season,” said Ferguson. “Chicharito hit such bloody good form that you had to put him in in every game, because he added so much in terms of threatening defenders all the time. So it was just unfortunate for Berbatov. It didn’t make him a bad player, he was just an unlucky player in that this lad came in. But that’s football and it tells you everything about football, yet at Manchester United we do that better than anyone. A young player come along and emerges and takes the position. Ryan Giggs did it with Lee Sharpe, so what you can do with Sharpey? We tried him outside-right, then left-back. He wanted to move on and went to Leeds, but that’s what happens. But Berbatov has been brilliant, first-class. His training has been terrific and he’s a good type of person. A nice guy.”