Giggs backs Berbatov to win ‘Golden Boot’ battle against Tevez in Manchester derby

LONDON - Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs is backing his teammate Dimitar Berbatov to win his ‘Golden Boot’ shoot-out with Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez during Saturday’s Manchester derby.

Berbatov heads the Premier League goal scorers’ list with 19, one more than Tevez.

“I think he’s been playing just as well as he has since he came to the club. The main difference is that he’s scoring goals. Ultimately that is what everyone from the outside looks at when you are playing up front. And he’s producing,” the Daily Express quoted Giggs, as saying.

“Goal-scorers often do it. They might not play well for 90 minutes, but score a goal and that’s all that anyone remembers. That’s all that people are interested in - it doesn’t matter as long as he scores.”

“I think he’s played just as well in the last two seasons, but he got off to such an unbelievable start scoring goals. That gives you confidence and you can see that within his play. When you are scoring goals as a centre forward you do act differently. You’ve got that confidence, that swagger and it’s good to see,” he added.

After struggling to settle in at United following his move from Tottenham in 2008, Berbatov has repaid manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s faith in bucket-loads this season.

With three hat-tricks already - including five against Blackburn the 30-year-old has answered all his critics at Old Trafford. (ANI)