[h=1]Basle game will be make or break for Man United's forgotten man Berbatov[/h] Published
22:30 26/09/11 By David McDonnell
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...-break-game-against-Basle-article804546.html#
Dimitar Berbatov will learn on Tuesday night whether Sir Alex Ferguson still has faith in him or whether his Manchester United career is effectively over.
With Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez out injured, Ferguson must choose from Berbatov, Michael Owen and Danny Welbeck to start up front against FC Basle at Old Trafford tonight.
Berbatov, who has not scored in the Champions League for three years, has become marginalised at United, despite remaining the club's most expensive ever player at £30million.
The Bulgarian is desperate to start tonight, despite being hauled off with 20 minutes to go in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke, having made his first Premier League start of the season.
With Berbatov out of contract at the end of the season and free to talk to other clubs from January 1, the 30-year-old striker's future remains in the balance, with the form of Welbeck and Owen pushing him further out of the picture.
Ferguson appeared to damn United's record signing with feint praise when he insisted Berbatov still had a significant role to play for United, despite him having scored just twice since the end of January.
But if Berbatov does not start tonight, it will prove beyond doubt Ferguson has lost all confidence in a player whom he did not even deem worthy of a place on the bench for last season's Champions League final against Barcelona. "Of course he's got a part to play," said Ferguson when asked about Berbatov. "He's one of our squad members and they've all got a part to play.
"We have a lot of games in the Premier League, Champions, FA Cup and Carling Cup. It's an exhausting season unless you use your squad.
"I don't have to reassure him. He knows his place in the squad and that applies to many players like Mame Diouf, Federico Macheda and Michael Owen. They're not playing regularly either.
"We've only had six Premier League games and the ones against Benfica and Leeds, so it's still early doors. There's plenty of time.
"It's hard because of the number of strikers we have. There's Rooney, Hernandez, Michael Owen is also there and we've got Welbeck, Macheda and Diouf, so it's not easy."
Ferguson, in prickly mood ahead of Tuesday night's Group C encounter, dismissed the notion that competition for places, with so many forwards at his disposal, had brought out the best in his strikers this season.
"I don't think that applies itself at all," said Ferguson. "They [the players] understand that having a big squad gives them a better chance of winning things.
"They accepted that a long time ago, the squad system, and they want to do well when they get the opportunity, because, as a group, we all want to do well. So I don't have any issues with that at all."
Despite plundering 20 goals last season to end the campaign as the Premier League's joint top scorer with Carlos Tevez, Berbatov has endured a remarkable drought in Europe.
His last Champions League goals came in a 3-0 win over Celtic at Old Trafford in October 2008, since when Berbatov has started 10 games and come on in a further 10, failing to score in any of them.
Although United have a one-way clause in Berbatov's contract enabling them to extend his deal by a further 12 months, it seems inconceivable they will choose to do so, given his current status.
A January move still seems the likeliest scenario, with Paris St Germain maintaining interest in Berbatov, despite him turning down the chance to join them in the summer in a £13m deal.
Although United should have no problem in overcoming Swiss champions Basle, Ferguson is acutely aware of the danger of making too many changes, having lost 3-0 away to Fenerbahce and 1-0 at home to Besiktas in recent seasons when tinkering with his side.
"We played Basle a few years ago and they've always been the premier team in Switzerland, either them or FC Zurich," said Ferguson.
"There was a spell when they were beginning to produce good players like Philip Senderos and they've been doing that for quite a few years now, getting good young players through which gives them good merit in terms of scouting in Europe.
"A lot of clubs are scouting players in Switzerland now. Their national team has always been reasonably good. They seem to represent themselves quite well, and Basle have good experience in Europe because they've been there a few times, so we'll respect that."
Ferguson re-iterated his belief that the Champions League remains the best competition in the world, outstripping the World Cup and European Championships because of the superior quality of teams and players on show.
But he dismissed the notion that this was a golden period for United in Europe, despite their impressive feat of reaching three finals in the past four years, two of which they have lost.
"I think the Champions League is the best competition in the world now, better than the World Cup and European Championships," said Ferguson.
"It's a fantastic tournament. But this isn't a golden period for us because we've lost two finals.
"We've been consistent in the Champions League and our form away from home has been outstanding.
"Obviously we hope we can do better this year and win it, because that's the aim of this club all the time."
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Dimitar Berbatov at Manchester United
2008-09: Signed for a club record £30.75m. Finished the season with just nine league goals and missed a weak penalty in the FA Cup semi shoot-out against Everton. Became the first Bulgarian to win a Premier League medal. Came on as a 66th minute substitute in United's 2-0 Champions League Final loss to Barcelona.
2009-10: Struggled to make an impact again. Received fan criticism for languid displays and scored just 12 goals in all competitions. Did not score in the Champions League - a run which still persists. Won League Cup medal.
2010-11: Joint top scorer in the Premier League with Carlos Tevez (20 goals) but failed to score in Europe again. Didn't even make the bench for Champions League Final defeat to Barcelona.
RECORD:
2008-09: 31 games 9 goals (Premier League), 9 games 4 goals (Champions League), 3 games 1 goal (FA Cup) = 43 games 14 goals TOTAL
2009-10: 33 games 12 goals (Prem), 6 games 0 goals (Champs), 1 game 0 goals (FA), 2 games 0 goals (League Cup) = 42 games 12 goals TOTAL
2010-11: 32 games 20 goals (Prem), 7 games 0 goals (Champs), 2 games 0 goals (FA) = 41 games 20 goals TOTAL
2011-12: 3 games 0 goals (Prem), 1 game 0 goals (LC) = 4 games 0 goals TOTAL
TOTAL: 130 games, 46 goals
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Basle three to watch
Granit Xhaka
The 18-year-old midfielder is considered one of is countrys brightest prospects. Made his full international debut against England in a 2-2 draw at Wembley in June and is a tenacious competitor.
Jacques Zoua
A Cameroon Under-20 international, he can play wide or up front, his pace, height and athleticism making him a handful. Likely to play on the left of midfield against United, up against Fabio Da Silva.
Alexander Frei
The 32-year-old striker remains Switzerlands all-time leading scorer, with 42 goals in 84 games. Despite his age, he is a forward of proven quality, a prolific finisher and remains a threat.
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