Bulgaria’s Berbatov, Rooney Kick Owen Out of South Africa 2010
Sports | January 3, 2010, Sunday // 11:51| views
Dimitar Berbatov (L) and Wayne Rooney (R) are suited as a partnership, according to coach Ferguson. Photo by EPA/BGNES
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are too identical to play alongside each other and partner Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov.
Owen who joined Manchester United in the summer from relegated side, Newcastle United has seen limited playing time with Dimitar Berbatov and Rooney now the preferred starting strike-force.
The Daily Mirror reported that Ferguson will give Owen his opportunities but fears for the England striker as Rooney is in such great form that it is almost impossible to leave him out of the team.
Ferguson said: "I'm sure Michael would love to go to the World Cup, a player with that history and goalscoring ability. He'd want to re-enact what he did back in 1998 when he had a great World Cup.
"We'll try to get him there as best we can, but it's difficult when you've got a squad of our size. It's difficult to leave Rooney out of your team.
Rooney's form is only part of the problem as Ferguson went on to explain his preference for either England striker to partner Berbatov.
He added: "That's the thing, because I think he's identical to Wayne in the position he plays, which is further up the pitch with Dimitar Berbatov in your team.
"Your combination is more likely to be Berbatov and Owen or Berbatov and Rooney. With Rooney and Owen together you'd have to drop Rooney in the hole and I prefer to play him further up the pitch." Ferguson maintains Owen can have had no illusions about the challenge he confronted when he joined United last summer.
"Michael is part of the squad and plays his part," Ferguson said. "When he came to the club it was on that understanding exactly.
"It's difficult when Rooney's in the kind of form he's been in. He's been great this season.
"Michael's never had a problem or missed a day's training with us. When we brought him here we looked at his training record, which was quite good.
"He's had injuries over the years but not with us. We're managing him in the right way."
As for the apparent lack of cohesion between his two main strikers, Rooney and Berbatov, the wily Scotsman is willing to give the duo more time to hit the right note.
Ferguson said: "There is a combination, they are suited as a partnership.
"The understanding has grown. Some partnerships click straight away, like Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. That was uncanny. It just happened.
"When I bought Yorkie my thought was maybe he'd partner Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Teddy Sheringham. But when Yorkie and Cole played together it was unbelievable.
"Hopefully Rooney and Berbatov will go on in the same way. Berbatov was carrying an injury that was affecting his game and he wondered if he should have an operation.
"But he's come through that now and we hope he can have a good second half of the season. He's a talented player."
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