04-01-2011, 12:28 PM
Darren Fletcher is convinced Wayne Rooney is responsible for Dimitar Berbatov's success this season.
Berbatov has netted 15 goals this term, with 13 of those coming when he's started alongside Rooney. And that statistic, Fletcher says, is no coincidence.
Wayne Rooney ............................... Darren Fletcher ............................... Dimitar Berbatov
“Having Wayne back alongside him has definitely helped Berba,” Fletcher told ManUtd.com.
“Wayne's been supplying him with some great passes and great assists. This season Dimitar's got himself into the box more and once he's got himself into those scoring positions he's been a lot more ruthless. It's great to see and we hope it continues.
“He and Wayne have a good partnership and we need the two of them scoring goals if we want to achieve success this year.”
Both players have netted over the festive break – Berbatov three times and Rooney once, his first goal from open play since March 2010. There's no hiding the fact that Rooney's strikerate has dropped in 2010/11, but Fletcher insists Wayne's contribution shouldn't be measured solely by goals.
“Wayne's contribution since he's come back from his latest injury has been fantastic. He's been full of energy, he's been dropping into dangerous areas, putting in some great crosses, playing some great forward passes to Berba...
“Even if he's not scoring goals himself he's still doing a great job and he's an important part of the team.”
Source: manutd.com
Berbatov has netted 15 goals this term, with 13 of those coming when he's started alongside Rooney. And that statistic, Fletcher says, is no coincidence.
Wayne Rooney ............................... Darren Fletcher ............................... Dimitar Berbatov
“Having Wayne back alongside him has definitely helped Berba,” Fletcher told ManUtd.com.
“Wayne's been supplying him with some great passes and great assists. This season Dimitar's got himself into the box more and once he's got himself into those scoring positions he's been a lot more ruthless. It's great to see and we hope it continues.
“He and Wayne have a good partnership and we need the two of them scoring goals if we want to achieve success this year.”
Both players have netted over the festive break – Berbatov three times and Rooney once, his first goal from open play since March 2010. There's no hiding the fact that Rooney's strikerate has dropped in 2010/11, but Fletcher insists Wayne's contribution shouldn't be measured solely by goals.
“Wayne's contribution since he's come back from his latest injury has been fantastic. He's been full of energy, he's been dropping into dangerous areas, putting in some great crosses, playing some great forward passes to Berba...
“Even if he's not scoring goals himself he's still doing a great job and he's an important part of the team.”
Source: manutd.com