The Reds boss accepts Berbatov will face hefty flak for his Wembley penalty flop - but the United boss refuses to blast his record buy.
The 27-year-old, who has been upstaged by teenage new star Federico Macheda, blew his chance to win over a majority sceptical Reds support in the FA Cup semi-final shoot-out.
Don't forget our live webchat with M.E.N. United reporter Stuart Mathieson at 2pm today.
Young Italian Macheda and 18-year-old Mancunian hitman Danny Welbeck are now on the heels of the superstar import as Fergie shapes his attack for the campaign run-in.
Berbatov's woeful 12-yard effort against Everton's Tim Howard has brought a mountain of criticism on the ex-Tottenham striker's shoulders.
Berbatov stepped up for United's critical first penalty after Tim Cahill had missed Everton's opener.
Doubters
His powder-puff effort from the spot has been roundly condemned as the `laziest' and `worst' penalty of all time.
His backers were hoping success in the shoot-out would convince the doubters of his worth and impact. His critics point to it as a debut season for United petering out into anonymity and under-achievement.
"I don't see any evidence of Berbatov's season tailing off," was United boss Fergie's verdict.
"He came on and actually did really well at Wembley. He is disappointed he has missed a penalty of course.
"He will get criticism for that because you pay £30m for a player and everyone thinks he should be able to score from a penalty kick.
"But you know it is not about that. Anyone can lose out on a penalty kick shoot-out. I have lost many. I don't place it as a defining part of my career. Anyone can lose them and win them. My first win in a major was in Moscow.
"I cannot look upon it as a definition of the team's record or a player's record.
"Dimitar was upset. We were all disappointed. It is the first semi we have lost. We have to move on."
Taste
Berbatov has polarised the United support since signing minutes before midnight as the summer transfer window closed. He is like Marmite: either you like him or you don't.
The bulk of the Reds fans still do not seem to have acquired the taste for the Bulgarian.
The latest batch of online contributions suggest he is another Old Trafford flop like Juan Sebastian Veron, that he is not up to United's standard.
The Bulgarian's critics have demanded he pulls his finger out and his contribution in his first season for the Reds is not good enough for a club record signing.
His penalty has been variously described among Reds supporters as being pathetic, cocky, arrogant and irresponsible.
Conversely, pro-Berba posts believe he will still play an important part in the campaign run-in.
Time and again criticism of Berbatov comes back to his work-rate.
He isn't a heart on his sleeve performer like Wayne Rooney or Carlos Tevez. His hair is slicked back with gel and not the sweat of his endeavours.
But that is exactly why Fergie fought to the last seconds to prise him from Tottenham last summer.
Panache
There were enough Duracell bunnies in his attack, with the effervescent Rooney and Tevez, that won the Premier League and European Cup double last season.
The Old Trafford boss believed he needed a class act to hold the ball up and bring other players into play with touch and panache.
He wanted another Eric Cantona.
The French striker didn't charge around turning his red shirt to deep crimson with perspiration.
Cantona was even excused tackling on the basis that it got him into too much trouble.
So Fergie knew what he was buying when he pursued Berbatov.
He monitored the Bulgarian's progress at CSKA Sofia and Bayer Leverkusen.
"Whenever a player comes here, people will find a way of criticising him, but his statistics are incredible," said Ferguson back in January.
"He did more running (against Middlesbrough in December) than most of the other players - even Rooney."
Berbatov's goal return has also been cause for concern. He has 13 in 33 matches and only twice in his 11-year career has he recorded fewer strikes.
However, he still has a slightly better strike rate than Cantona had in his first season at Old Trafford.
What do you think of Berbatov? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Red Culture (21/04/2009 at 09:10)
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (21/04/2009 at 09:18)
Salford n Proud, Salford (21/04/2009 at 09:20)
At the present moment id say he was a WASTER
stevi, france (21/04/2009 at 09:21)
Yes it was a bad penalty but he isn't the first person to miss one nor will he be the last........most of the concern is only being caused by the press searching for yet another no news story.
NorthernGeezer, Manchester (21/04/2009 at 09:25)
Put aside his feeble penalty attempt for the moment and look at his contribution during the rest of the season.
Skilfull, yes, application....... lets just say not 100% to the cause.
If you think Ronaldo dosnt tackle back enough, at least he's not as laid back as Berbatov.
On the plus side, at least the lad had the guts to stand up and take a penalty, where was Tevez??.
If fergie persists with him over at least the next season, which by the sound of it he will, we will yet again struggle to score goals.
Ah well, another £30million wasted.
edinburgh red, edinburgh (21/04/2009 at 09:27)
His problem is that he was excellent for spurs scoring a goal every 2nd game and getting mom a lot and it's not like he hasn't played in the premiership before. In his defence it's not like we have any creative midfielders setting up many chances for him and no one ever seems to cross the ball in the box and he doesn't have a proper number 10 in advance of him, but again he also never makes an effort to get on the end of things, hopefully for the rest of the season he will make an effort to justify his fee and his recent performances
david allen (21/04/2009 at 09:33)
Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (21/04/2009 at 09:33)
Brian, Brussels (21/04/2009 at 09:39)
MUFC1878 (21/04/2009 at 09:40)
Had he 'just' missed a penalty, I'm sure we'd be able to move on. Cantona, van Nistelrooy, and most recently Ronaldo have missed important penalties, and didn't get as much stick as Berbatov.
Why? His penalty lacked conviction. Rio, for example, hit a poor penalty, but at least he looked like he cared and wanted to score.
In fact, I'm not even sure you can call it a penalty - it was more of a pass back. And again I say, his 'excuse' for missing it was almost as bad as the 'effort' itself.
Dimitar - shape up, or get out.
And for those criticising Tevez for not stepping up - how do you know that a decision wasn't made for him to perhaps take the 'crucial' and perhaps 'deciding' penalty?
He was our most natural and experienced penalty taker on the pitch, so what is the point of wasting him early on and then watch the rest fluff theirs?
To be fair, I'd have picked Berbatov to go first (not realising, at the time he'd have wasted such an opportunity to prove how important he is) I'd have put my mortgage on him scoring - and Rio isn't a bad penalty kick taker, but once Berbatov had missed, maybe the nerve had gone a little.
Yes he took the first one in the European Cup final. But he had Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Nani and Giggs after him - all experienced big game players and excellent penalty kick takers.
On Sunday, he had inexperienced kids whose confidence may have been shot to pieces had they missed in the shoot-out, hence why the more senior players like Rio and Vida took one.
Gilly, Belgium (21/04/2009 at 09:41)
I personally think he needs time to really settle in ...............
his work rate is ok , he does not run around like a headless chiken like park does omg !
Give him time I think Berbatov will come good, if he doesnt then we gotta offload him and GET a striker who can score goals !
Like Benzema , who at the moment doesnt want to come to the uk , or
Franck Ribery , tho he is a winger not a centre forward ! ummmm but he scores goals now doesnt he ! or Agurra is too short , Fabiano is big but doesnt want to move , so who else ???
george evans (21/04/2009 at 09:43)
Look at all the flak Phil Neville took on here and he's gone to Everton and done very well proving he was a quality player all along.Dimitar Berbatov is a quality player who wouldn't be at UNITED otherwise.His biggest challenge now is to shut out the media rubbish and get on with his career.Yes it was a poor penalty but we don't have a time machine it's gone.
dufster, NI (21/04/2009 at 09:54)
Red-Brit-in-It (21/04/2009 at 09:57)
Augustus Gloop (21/04/2009 at 09:58)
George Lyons (21/04/2009 at 10:09)
Splurge (21/04/2009 at 10:11)
Anyone with half a brain must surely know that which ever way a keeper decides to dive - his feet are still generally going to be trailing around the middle of the goal - so why hit it there so lazily you muppet.
mufcmart55, UK (21/04/2009 at 10:15)
Dont think i ever saw him miss a penalty for Tottenham. If anybody doubts his penalty skills, check out the Carling Cup Final between Spurs and Chelsea where he made Peter Cech look foolish.
dumbartini, GX (21/04/2009 at 10:28)
It's differnt at somewhere like Spurs as the pressure and focus just isn't the same.
Talent and ability are one thing, but dealing with pressure and still performing are another - and if you can't cope, move on.
dennis d, Moston..... (21/04/2009 at 10:37)
Did SAF really sign those players,,,,not in the same class as Cloughie.....
Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (21/04/2009 at 10:39)
betty swollocks, reddish (21/04/2009 at 10:43)
Betty swollocks , on the swamp page , not nice
I saw Duncan Edwards play, Walton Le Dale (21/04/2009 at 10:45)
If you are watching the games actually at Old Trafford or the away stadiums, do you really think that moaning or shouting abuse at ANY of our players will actually HELP them? If you are watching on screen then fair enough, moan if it helps your own frustrations.
Starting tomorrow night, put aside your grievances at any of our players, and sing/shout us on to victory. I definitely know that there will be three of us in North Stand Lower whose throats will be hoarse after the game, and proud that we have tried our best for the cause!!!!!
We can then discuss how good Berba has been for us after May 27th!!!!!!!
Lee , Heywood, Heywood (21/04/2009 at 10:58)
falconi (21/04/2009 at 11:00)