Manchester United begin their sixth reboot under new management since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement with a former star of the glory days urging the players to rediscover their “nasty” streak.
Cup wins in each of his two full seasons in charge were not enough to save Erik ten Hag, who was fired last month and replaced by Ruben Amorim.
After a delayed arrival, the 39-year-old Portuguese manager inherits a team enduring its worst start to a Premier League season – heading to Ipswich on Sunday in 13th place.
Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov told Sky News: “We need to be more nasty on the pitch.
“I remember when we used to train in the training ground, it was like a war.”
The Bulgarian added: “I’m going to yell at you. I’m going to curse you. I’m going to scream at you. And it’s nothing personal.
“When everything finished in the dressing room, we are still friends. We can hug and everything. So I want to see United going out there and not be so nice at times.”
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Berbatov, who scored 48 goals in 108 appearances for United, won the Premier League in 2009 and 2011 in an era dominated by Sir Alex.
But the team has not lifted the trophy since they won a record 20th league title in 2013 – when the Scot retired as manager.
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Amorim already knows how to win silverware having won the Portuguese league twice at Lisbon club Sporting
“He has that winning mentality – let’s hope he’s going to bring that into the team,” Berbatov said.
“So maybe that winning mentality and striving for going for the Premier League title is lost in a way.”
Berbatov watches from afar, hoping Amorim quickly gets the players to believe him as Sir Alex did so successfully for 26 years at United.
“Of course, you manage them tactically but knowing how to speak with them is the most important,” he said. “You have 25 egos into the team who everybody thinks he’s the best ever.
“So now you need to know how to speak with them, how to treat them with who you need to be more polite… and it’s a very complex process.
“But Sir Alex mastered it and he knew exactly how to speak with everybody individually. Sometimes he manipulated you to believe certain things for the good of the team.”
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The former striker also watches now with a sense of awareness about wellbeing, from players to fans, and is backing a campaign to earn a mental health charity up to £20,000 – based on key injury time moments with the LiveScore app.
“It’s good to share because you’re going to feel great,” he said. “Trust me, I’ve been there. I didn’t share after a while.
“Now, in my stage in my life, I share with my wife, with my friends, with my dad or my mum still and… I feel good now. So my advice is don’t be ashamed.”
