Dimitar Berbatov has spoken for the first time about why he has decided to stay at Manchester United despite the crushing blow of not even making the substitutes' bench for last season's Champions League final. "Where can you go? Only down," said the player who combined winning the Premier League's Golden Boot without convincing Sir Alex Ferguson he could influence the more important matches.

Berbatov was so distraught about Ferguson's selection against Barcelona he never emerged from the Wembley dressing rooms, but it was far from the first time the Bulgarian has been overlooked for key fixtures.

The paradox is the 30-year-old scored 21 league goals last season and, speaking on the club's pre-season tour to the United States, he was unapologetic about his playing style. "You are not going to see me puffing around the pitch," he said. "There is a saying in Bulgaria that great quality doesn't require much effort. I always play like this. That is what got me here."

That style can polarise opinion among United's supporters and there is clear evidence that Ferguson has lost trust in the club's most expensive signing when it comes to Champions League knockout matches or games against the Premier League's top clubs.

Berbatov was unwilling to speak in detail about his ordeal in the Champions League final – "I don't want to go back to that," he said – but he made it clear that he had never wanted to leave Old Trafford.

"Manchester United is the top [club]. Smaller clubs might be able to match Manchester United with the way they play, with their organisation, everything. But Manchester United are at the top. Where can you go from there? Only down.

"At the moment, I don't see anything else. If you go somewhere it is a big step down [and], for me, I always went up, up, up in my career. I am happy [at United]."

Berbatov went on to say the disappointment against Barcelona would "drive me on" but he also firmly believes he can return to another Champions League final. "I still have time. Sometimes in the future ... I am sure. The good thing about football is that there is always next year. You can make things right."

As for his form over the previous year, he added: "Last season was proof that even if you have some downs in your career, if you believe in the way you play, in your style of play, you can do it."

Berbatov has only a year to run on his contract, although United have a "one-way option" whereby they can extend it by another 12 months whenever they want. The striker was guarded about whether he would like to stay longer – "that is a personal thing that we only discuss with the boss and the chairman" – but he was candid enough to acknowledge that he will face a battle to get into the team on a regular basis next season given that United's travelling party, preparing to face the MLS All-Stars in New Jersey on Wednesday (kick-off 1.30am Thursday UK time), includes seven different forwards.

"I am not 21 any more," he said. "There are many young and talented players now, including some from the academy. The last season is in the past. The goals I scored, what I did, I have done it. This is a new season. It starts all over again."

Berbatov went on to describe himself as "motivated and concentrated" and determined to show that he can bounce back from a disappointment that could conceivably have left a different player questioning whether he should find another club.

Berbatov, of course, has always thought differently to the average player, maintaining that the public still does not understand him. "I am a very proud person. I don't like to show my weaknesses in public. I don't want to show my emotions in public. That is why people probably sometimes misjudge me. But that is OK."