Dimitar Berbatov has urged Marcus Rashford to speak to Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani for advice as the Manchester United forward looks to rediscover his form.
Rashford has struggled for form this season after returning from a shoulder operation last summer, with the 24-year-old having scored just three goals in all competitions.
The England international has failed to find the net in his last eight Premier League games and produced an ineffective showing during the Red Devils’ 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup’s third round on Monday evening.
Berbatov has discussed facing criticism during his own career with the club and says he was grateful to his coaches for not attempting to alter his game during difficult periods.
“When I received criticism, it sometimes affected me and sometimes it didn’t,” Berbatov told Betfair, as per the Sun.
“I had to work and live with it, but I never wanted to change and none of my coaches wanted me to change the way I played because I knew how I saw the game and how I wanted to play the game and I was lucky to do that.
“Looking back I’m very proud of the way I used to play football and judging by some of the reaction we miss players that had a different approach to matches and how we see football.
“We need more players like this because everything starts in the head and follows. It’s not always about running like crazy, it’s about running smart. All the great players know that.”
Berbatov added that Rashford should speak with senior figures within the club, citing Ronaldo and Cavani as example of experienced names who can provide the struggling star with advice.
“It’s important that the manager, the staff and team-mates are giving Rashford these little boosts.
“They have some incredible people at the club, he should speak to Cristiano Ronaldo and ask him for advice.
“I didn’t speak to any of my team mates when I was on a bad run, I was shy and quite private. That was my mistake.
“If there’s someone in the team who is experienced and is an icon in world football, like Ronaldo then go and ask him for advice, I’m sure he will give people time and wise words.
“Edinson Cavani brings goals wherever he goes, he should speak to him too. Don’t be like me, talk to teammates, because that cycle of bad form can go on and on.
“Rashford is a great talent and he is a great player for England, he is a product of the United academy and everybody knows he is a great player.
“What he does off the pitch is incredible. On the pitch he needs to fully concentrate and get out of this cycle because people unfortunately judge strikers on goals.
“You can run all day long, sacrifice yourself but if you don’t score you will be criticised, and if you score and don’t run you get called lazy.
“There’s always going to be people who criticise players, but it’s important not to pay attention to them, just find your rhythm, don’t rush things and try not to overcomplicate things.
“Strikers need to score goals, it’s the job. Sometimes though, you can want it so much and you want to show everybody how much you care, you end up doing too much and it just doesn’t happen and you put even more pressure on yourself.
“When you are in that cycle it’s difficult to look at the bigger things and this is where your friends, family and people you listen to come into play. They need to give you that advice.”
