Phelan: Room for improvement

Assistant manager Mike Phelan insists Manchester United must do better in the UEFA Champions League this season.
The Reds missed out on the knockout stages of Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2005/2006 after losing to Basel in the final group game last year. With the draw for the 2012/13 group stages providing Braga, Galatasaray and Cluj as the opposition, Phelan is aware of the need to avoid a repeat performance.
"Europe’s always big at this football club," he told ManUtd.com. "The traditions are set within the European boundaries for Manchester United and we know we have to do better. "We let Europe slip from our grasp too easily last year. The players are conscious and aware of that, although we haven’t dwelled on it as that wouldn’t be positive. We’ve put it down as a blip, but we know we have to do better."
Phelan says there are other lessons to be learned from last season as the Reds missed out on any silverware in agonising fashion on the final day of the campaign.
"You learn it’s a team game, even though individuals change matches," suggested Phelan. "Everybody has to be fully focused for the entire match – from first to last whistle. I think we also know that we need to score plenty of goals. The old days of being able to win the league by grinding out 1-0 victories is gone. In this league now, every goal counts so we want to create more chances and score more goals. We also have to defend well as a unit. All those elements are very important."

United want to Buy a Brazilian

United join race to sign Brazil hotshot. Manchester United are considering a January move for Brazil striker Leandro Damiao. Tottenham failed in a £20m bid for Damiao last week while the 23-year-old was offered to Liverpool on loan but the deal was considered too expensive. United held talks over Damiao in February and intermediaries met his representatives in Sao Paulo Airport on Monday to outline a proposal for January. The striker won a silver medal at the Olympics and was tournament top scorer with six goals. United bolstered their front line with the £24m signing of Robin van Persie from Arsenal this summer and also boast Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez among their ranks. But Leandro is fast becoming one of world football's hottest properties after his star showing at London 2012.

Dimitar Berbatov says he has lost respect for Sir Alex Ferguson

Dimitar Berbatov says he has lost respect for Sir Alex Ferguson over the way his Manchester United career came to an end.

The Bulgarian striker, who moved to Fulham on Friday, said he was unhappy with the way the United manager had treated him in the final months of his time at Old Trafford.

"I don't think I deserved such treatment at United – not playing in the last year," said Berbatov. "I went more than 10, probably 15, times to ask the coach if they need me. And every time I was told that I'm an important player and should not leave, but then again I was not in the team.

"Maybe I should've gone when he [Ferguson] left me out of the squad for the Champions League final [in 2011]. I know he's the boss, but he has lost, to some extent, my respect because of the way he treated me."

Berbatov became United's most expensive player when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 for £30.75m, and was the Premier League's joint top scorer in the 2010-11 season with 20 goals.

Berbatov, who said he would not come out of international retirement, felt he fell victim to a change in United's style of play.

"He [Ferguson] tried to explain to me that the team will be using a more direct style, with more speed," he said. "But I've never been among the fastest players, I like to hold the ball, this is my style.

"I found it hard to accept his decision – I still have my dignity. I scored many goals, I won the league two times, and I was the league top scorer, so it's not bad.

"I'll have no problems playing against United as this already happened in my career. But there's no point to look back again. I said goodbye to the people, who deserve it. I couldn't say goodbye to Ferguson."

Berbatov's transfer to Fulham proved controversial in Italy, as he twice turned down offers from Serie A clubs at the last minute to stay in the Premier League but he denied that he had acted inappropriately in his dealings with Fiorentina and Juventus.

"I've never personally told them, 'Yes, I'll play for you'," he said. "It's not my problem that someone is disappointed. After all, I choose where to play and be happy."

The 31-year-old angered Fiorentina when he turned his back on them last Thursday, one day before the end of the transfer window. The player then rejected the chance to move to Juventus. "He did not deserve our city and our shirt and the values it represents," Fiorentina said in a statement.

Berbatov said: "It's stressful. One club called, then another, and a third, and then another. A man can go crazy at one point. I'm a human being and it's normal for me to hesitate."

Man Utd boss Ferguson optimistic about Fletcher return

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with Darren Fletcher's playing return.
Whilst he is wary of placing any timescale on the player's potential return to senior action for United, evidently the signs are hugely encouraging.
"Darren's put a lot of weight back on," said Ferguson. "He's back to his normal weight from two or three years ago.
"He's training well every day and played really well the other night for the Under-21s.
"With the condition he has, it's a case of wait and see.
"But if he keeps doing as well as he's doing then obviously he'll be under consideration because he's a fantastic player."

Man Utd captain Vidic: Van Persie an amazing, great player

Manchester United skipper Nemanja Vidic was full of praise for hat-trick hero Robin van Persie after victory at Southampton.
Vidic praised Van Persie's character after the Holland hitman recovered from missing a penalty to score the two late goals in the sensational win at St Mary's.
"Robin was great," he told MUTV. "I think he's a great player. Even in his first game, he did a good job and this one is amazing with three goals to give us three points, which I think are going to count very much at the end of the season.
"He's a good penalty taker but it could happen to anyone. It was not a great penalty, I have to say, but, in the end, he managed to score two more so we got the win."

Man Utd attacker Bebe feels career back on track

Manchester United striker Bebe feels his career is back on track this season.
Bebe has been recalled from loan in Turkey by United and is in Portugal's U21 squad this week.
"Now I feel good, the injury is already part of the past," Bebe told A Bola.
"I am very excited to have this opportunity. I will always be available to help my country."

Liverpool legend Lawro: Signing Owen would be backwards step

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has urged his old club to forget about trying to sign Michael Owen.
The released Manchester United striker is being linked with a return to Anfield.
But Lawro wrote in the Mirror: "For me it is a retrograde step and Liverpool should never have left themselves in a position where they even have to be considering it.
"In terms of being fit and available you have to ask how often that will be the case with Owen.
"I also get the impression with him that it is not just about the fact that he only wants to play football.
"If that was the case then he would have lowered his salary demands and signed for a Championship club.
"I just don't think he wants to play for the love of the game any more."