Sir Alex Ferguson: I would have understood if Dimitar Berbatov wanted to leave Manchester United after Champions League final snub

The veteran manager praises the form of Javier Hernandez last season and says this was a big reason in the Bulgarian striker not getting many first team chances

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he would have understood if Dimitar Berbatov wanted to leave the club at the end of last season.

The 30-year-old striker was left out of the Champions league final squad against Barcelona, despite finishing joint-top scorer in the Premier League.

Berbatov broke down in tears when he heard he would not be included and watched the match from United's dressing room.

But Sir Alex has been pleased with the way the Bulgarian has performed in training and believes he will have a role to play this season.

When asked if he would have understood Berbatov wanting to leave, Sir Alex told reporters: “Yes, I’d understand that, but you could say that about them all.

“Berbatov will be all right. His training has been terrific and he’s a good person, a nice guy.

“There were seven or eight players disappointed at not being involved in the final. Berbatov will be all right.”

Sir Alex has defended leaving the Bulgarian, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year last season, out of the squad, believing you have to rotate a team if you are going to win silverware.

The Scot added: “They understand it’s the squad that wins the games and wins the cups and I’ve got a good squad that will be used in exactly the same way.

“I don’t pick the same team every week, do I? I’ve only done that once in the last three years.”

The United boss also praised the emergence of Mexican striker Javier Hernandez, citing his form as a key reason behind Berbatov being left out of the team.

He added: “Chicharito hit such good form that you had to put him in every game.

“It was unfortunate for Berbatov. It didn’t make him a bad player, he was just an unlucky player that this lad came in.”