Dimitar Berbatov hits out at Manchester United players for hugging their City rivals
Dimitar Berbatov has hit out at Manchester United players for hugging Manchester City stars this week as he criticised his old side for being ‘too nice’.
United suffered a 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final clash at Old Trafford, their fourth straight semi-final cup exit.
Former United striker Berbatov bemoaned the lack of fight in the team, with members of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad seen hugging City players before and after the game.
Dimitar Berbatov criticised Manchester United players for hugging Manchester CIty stars
Former United striker Berbatov (left, pictured with Sir Alex Ferguson) says the team is too nice
Berbatov revealed that he agrees with Roy Keane, who previously expressed his frustration with how courteous the United players have become towards their rivals.
‘Sometimes when you have these derbies in important matches, it’s not about momentum or form,’ Berbatov told Betfair.
‘It’s about how much you want it, how smart and cunning the players are, if necessary use some dirty tricks, do whatever it takes to win. Sometimes you need to be like this and, like Jose Mourinho said, you need to be b******* to win trophies. I don’t see enough of that from United in these big matches.
Berbatov was eager to point out that the United squad (Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire pictured) is ‘missing someone who is dirty’
‘Roy Keane spoke about how shocked he was too see players hugging each other after the last Manchester derby. I agree with him. What the f***, this is a derby go out there and win.’
Berbatov, who played for United between 2008 and 2012, added that Solskjaer’s side are missing someone who is ‘dirty’ and can provide the team with aggression to set the tone in big games.
He said: ‘They’re missing someone who is dirty in the team, someone who can show the aggression that would give them an edge. United are too nice at times.’
The Bulgarian said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s (right) team has become far too nice to their rivals
United have shown significant signs of improvement of late and are currently second in the Premier League, level on points with leaders Liverpool while having a game in hand.
Solskjaer is still waiting for the first trophy of his United tenure, with his side having lost four semi-finals since he took charge.
On Saturday night United get their FA Cup campaign underway with a home game against Watford in the third round.
