Berba: Primed & Ready

Dimitar Berbatov tells United Review he is ready to play his part whenever needed in what looks set to be a dramatic season finale...

What has been the key to our excellent run of late?
It’s a combination of things. We train well and we rest well – that is just as important as the training part. The coaching staff prepare videos for us to watch of our opponents so we know what to expect and the rehabilitation after games is very good too, and that helps us stay fresh for the next one. It’s about putting all these little pieces together because you need a bit of everything.

Gary Neville said after the Spurs win he senses the players are starting to “smell" the title – are you?
[Laughs] Maybe, but it’s important we don’t get ahead of ourselves. We can’t underestimate any of our opponents. It will be difficult but we know how to handle this situation – we’ve been here before. There are just two teams left now and we know there is going to be a big showdown [against City]. But I don’t think it’ll just be that game that decides the title. You could lose points against other teams and that could be the deciding factor. We need to stay focused in every one of our remaining games and if we keep our away form going I don’t think we will have a problem because at Old Trafford, it doesn’t matter who comes here, we are very hard to beat.

Is this always the most exciting part of the season for players?
No! [Laughs] Yes it is, but obviously the pressure is very much on when you’re fighting for the title so mentally you need to stay strong. If you start thinking about everything too much you end up putting too much pressure on yourself. Every game is like a cup final and you know you have to hold your nerve. But we have the experience to handle that and hopefully in the end we will be champions again.

Has this season been one of mixed emotions for you given your chances have been limited?
Every time I’ve played I think I have done well and I’m ready and waiting whenever the boss gives me a chance to show my quality and deliver. I want to do as much as I can for the team to help us win the title.

How do you keep yourself motivated when you’re not playing?
It’s just about being ready. We have a big squad and you know sometimes you’re not going to play. It’s sad and it’s painful but you need to be strong and be prepared for when your team-mates need your help. We are a team and we want to win together.

And having a variety of top strikers can only be a good thing in the run-in…
Absolutely. Sometimes you rotate the strikers to suit different teams you’re playing. It’s my job and the other strikers’ jobs to be ready to do your best when the chance arises.

Danny Welbeck has certainly been a great addition to that attacking group…
I’m particularly happy to see how well Danny has done. I remember him coming through the ranks and you could see then he had great quality. His loan spell at Sunderland helped him a lot and he is one for the future for both United and England.

Do you still feel you have an important part to play between now and May?
Yes, of course. There are a lot of games coming up which present different challenges and I’m training very hard to make sure I’m ready when the moment comes.