Dimitar Berbatov Exclusive: A look back at 2021 and predictions for 2022

The year 2021 has been an interesting one in football, I can’t believe how quick time flies and we are already at the end of the year. It felt like just yesterday when I was 25 and kicking a football around, time flies.

Hopefully the teams and players that are out there on the pitch have this in mind and know that every game, goal and point is important because time goes very fast.

It’s important for a player to enjoy it while they can.

2021 highlights

There have been many things in football that have grabbed my attention this year. The Harry Kane situation in the summer was something that really stood out, I was curious to see what was going to happen with that transfer saga and it looks as though it could still be a big talking point in 2022.

A big highlight of the year was seeing my old teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo come back home, to Old Trafford. I never thought he would go to City, even though there were some strong rumours. In the end it was great to see him come home and he has shown that he still has that class and he has scored some big goals.

Another big transfer shock was seeing Lionel Messi leave Barcelona, I never thought we would see that happen, but it did and he is now at PSG.

English teams dominated in the Champions League and it was a major achievement for Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel to win the competition, what a way for the German manager to announce himself in England.

2021 player of the year

Mo Salah is unbelievable, his record over the year is incredible and every time he goes on to the pitch you know he is going to make something happen. Bernardo Silva has also been an outstanding player, the way he plays, controls the ball and sees the game is great to watch.

Outside the Premier League Robert Lewandowski continues to impress me, the guy is a machine.

I think he should have won the Ballon d’Or, we all know that Messi and Ronaldo are the greatest ever but Lewandowski has been outstanding and they should find a way to award him for what he has achieved over the year.

2021 disappointment of the year

I can’t hide my disappointment in the Europa League final back in May, it was a great opportunity for Manchester United to win a trophy and build back that winning momentum and mentality. If they had have won it, I bet Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have been given more time.

It’s always a major disappointment when you go to a final and you want to win it but lose it, it’s always a bad experience that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, it can lead to all kinds of situations down the road, there are lots of questions and it’s painful.

2022 Premier League winner

I don’t want it to be just a three horse race, although it’s now looking more like a two horse race, I want to see five or six teams push each other to make it more interesting for everyone following the Premier League.

Man United have a great chance to build momentum and get on a good run, they could be back in the mix under Ralf Rangnick. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Everyone can beat anyone in the Premier League, it’s still an open race and there are a lot of teams that can still get in the mix if they go on a good run.

Without a doubt though, Man City are the team to beat and at the minute and it looks as though Liverpool are in the driving seat if Guardiola’s team is to be overtaken.

2022 Champions League winner

We always expect the English teams to dominate, but lets not forget there are still some very strong European teams out there, like Bayern Munich, they have always been a great team and they know how to play.

Looking at the Premier League teams, I know that City, Liverpool, Chelsea and United are the teams that the rest of Europe will be looking to beat.

City are the favourites but I still think

Bayern Munich could have a big say in things this year.

Man United in 2022

I want to see stable management and consistency in producing good results, especially at the moment, momentum going into the second half of the season is so important. If they continue on a good run and they do okay on the pitch and have that consistency and winning factor then it will give the dressing room and the management a real belief.

Things will start to flow and everyone’s hopes are high for Rangnick. His job isn’t easy and he has a lot of work to do still but I just want him to bring some stability to United in the way that the team will play, attacking football, young players given chances and sticking to a system that makes the team better.

If they get that right, 2022 could be very promising for Man United.

Will Spurs win a trophy in 2022?

That is question that has been asked ever since I left the club! My answer is the same: I hope so.

In charge they now have Antonio Conte, who brings trophies wherever he goes, but that was the same for Mourinho not long ago.

So, it shows that when you bring in a successful coach to Spurs, trophies aren’t always guaranteed.

My hopes are high for Spurs and they are doing well in the league, they have a great chance to win a trophy again with the team this year, they have top players and Harry Kane will be desperate to lift a trophy with the club. Are they going to do it? We will see.

What will 2022 bring for Harry Kane?

This year saw the big transfer saga with Kane looking like he was going to leave Tottenham, it didn’t happen and I believe we will see a similar saga in 2022. The questions about his future are still there.

Next year is a big one for him though, the World Cup is coming and this is a great opportunity for Kane to continue to shine and continue to score goals for England and lead the team to the trophy. This will be on his mind.

He’s a great player and I’m certain that he will be England’s top goalscorer soon, he will be Spurs’ top goalscorer if he stays, but at the end of the day if he doesn’t have anything in his trophy cabinet then that will be a waste in my opinion and it will be a regret that he will have.

I’ll say it again, time is flying and it feels like it was only yesterday when I was kicking the ball around, scoring goals and lifting trophies. If one of the greatest goalscorers of our generation doesn’t win the Premier League at least once, then I am sure he will regret it for the rest of his life.

So, he will be faced with another tough decision in 2022 and at the end of the day it’s down to him, his ambition, what he wants and needs. Maybe his success isn’t defined by winning trophies.