Sir Alex Ferguson has defended underfire Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov by declaring he gives the team another dimension.
The Bulgarian has come in for criticism from some United supporters in recent weeks for his lethargic penalty miss in the FA Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Everton.
The 28-year-old has not been universally hailed at Old Trafford this season, especially as he is keeping fans' favourite Carlos Tevez on the bench.
But Ferguson admitted that he has been an admirer of Berbatov's talents for a number of years and highlighted that he is the perfect link-up man.
"Berbatov is a fantastic link between midfield and attack," the Scot told France Football.
"He can fill the gaps in the last third of the pitch. Moreover he is over six foot, different to Tevez and Rooney, when we need someone of such stature.
"We tried to sign him when he was at Leverkusen, but we weren't fast enough. So when the opportunity happened again we jumped at it."
The United boss also highlighted Barcelona as his team's biggest threat in retaining their UEFA Champions League crown this term.
"Only Barcelona can challenge with the Premier League. We defeated them last season but (Pep) Guardiola gives them a defensive clearness they didn't have before," he explained.
The 67-year-old has been in charge at the Theatre of Dreams for close to 25 years and Ferguson points out the changes he has witnessed during that time.
"The current players don't look like the ones 25 years ago," he claimed. "They are not as strong mentally because before they grew-up in a not very easy environment.
"Today they like to believe they came from working class environments, but it is not working class from the 30s, 40s or 50s, the ones I knew.
"So you have to adapt, manage egos, characters, and motivate players who have everything today."
Ferguson continued, "Football looks more and more like chess and in chess if you lose your concentration only for one second you are dead.
"I like to let the opposition coach make the first substitution. That makes me see what he wants to do."
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