KLEBERSON: I´VE NOT BEEN AT MY BEST
Thursday 12th February 2004
Brazilian midfielder Kleberson concedes Manchester United have yet to witness the form which prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to bring him to Old Trafford.
The £6 million acquisition from Atletico Paranaense has endured a stop-start career in England and has struggled to adapt to the demands of The Premiership.
A dislocated shoulder prevented him from making an early impact for The Red Devils and he has recently returned from a break in his homeland.
He was restored to the starting line-up against Middlesbrough on Wednesday but produced an abject display before being replaced by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kleberson admits he has not hit the levels which made him a World Cup winner but he is confident he can silence the doubters in his second season with United.
" I am quite sure that Manchester United fans have not seen the best of me yet," Kleberson told the Manchester Evening News. " I have plenty more to offer, that is definite.
" My ambition is to try and reproduce the kind of form I showed in the World Cup, even better if I can.
" When you come to a team like United you always want to play. I have to cope at the moment with not playing as often as I would like.
" But this is my first season in England and so I will take this as the year to adapt myself. In the second year I think I will be freer to play football.
" I will also speak better English which will help on the pitch. This is very much a learning lesson."
Kleberson was recently criticised by Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira for his current lack of spark, and the 24-year-old agrees with his national boss.
He added: " It is true I haven´t produced the same form since the World Cup.
" I have spoken to the Brazilian coach and he mentioned that to me. But I am trying to get better and better and that´s my aim.
" It wasn´t unfair criticism. It is correct. But it has been a big year for me coming to England to such a big club and also becoming a father.
" It is only a matter of time, I believe, before I become the player I was in the World Cup."