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Roman slams 'arrogant' Berba

28 Feb 2009 - 13:01:19

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Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has blasted Manchester United's Bulgaria international Dimitar Berbatov in the build-up to Sunday's Carling Cup Final between the two teams.

Berbatov left White Hart Lane last August in controversial circumstances after allegedly engineering a move to the north-west.

Pavlyuchenko says Spurs' players were unimpressed by Berbatov's attitude during his last few days in north London, in sharp contrast to Robbie Keane's behaviour before he signed for Liverpool last summer.

"Robbie Keane returned to the Spurs as if he never left the club," Pavlyuchenko told Russian paper Gazeta Daily.

"It's evident that he's a man of authority inside the team which is good for us. He was always liked as far as I can judge.

"If Berbatov returned it would be taken quite differently. I heard tales that he was an arrogant snob who, after a training session, would just throw his dirty boots to the man who takes care of our footwear saying: 'Clean them for me!'

"No one likes such people. Still he's now playing for Manchester United."

On Sunday's game, the Russia international added: "I very much want to score in that match. We lost to them in FA Cup so the game is very important for us, first of all because it's about a title. In football you need to win titles.

"So far I have only won the Russian Cup with Spartak Moscow and would like to feel those winner's emotions again. Secondly, it's a ticket to the UEFA Cup. Third, it means a chance to avenge our previous loss.

"And fourth, it will boost our self-assurance. It's hard to over-estimate the importance of that match."