Young Loving The High Life

The hunger to win the 2011/12 title race is evident in all the Manchester United players and staff at present – from those who’ve collected 12 championship medals in the Premier League era to the younger men who’ve yet to win one.

Ashley Young falls into the latter category but far from being intimidated by the unfamiliar experience of chasing the big prize, he’s revelling in it.

“I am enjoying every bit of it,” Young told us this week.

“These are exciting times for me personally and it became even more exciting last weekend when we found ourselves top of the league.”

Competing for the title in March, April and May is exactly what Young expected when he put pen to paper on a contract with the Reds last June.

“From the time you sign for a club like United you get that winning mentality,” the winger said. “Every competition we have entered this season we have wanted to win.

“Now we have 10 games left in the league and everyone is looking forward to each one.”

Although Young is not well versed in vying for the title, he can still draw on lessons learned in several end-of-season pressure situations with previous club Aston Villa.

“We were going for Europe and for three seasons in a row, we finished in sixth place,” Young says, recalling how the Villans – then managed by Martin O’Neill – missed out.

“We tried to get into the Champions League spot. So many times it was there and then it just got taken away. That was disappointing.”

Young returns to the Midlands this Sunday for a fixture that used to be a derby in his Villa days – Wolves away at Molineux. He knows the Wanderers well and recognises how their current predicament could pose a threat to United’s title ambitions.

“Wolves are fighting for their lives down near the bottom so we know it is going to be a tough game,” Young warned.

“We don't want to slip up against anyone. We have to be on our game, and play the way we have been playing in the league over the last few weeks.

“We looked at our fixture list from Arsenal away in January to Tottenham away in March as a tough series of games. We have come through that period and found ourselves top of the league. We have concentrated on ourselves throughout that period and not looked at anyone else or got into talking about the title. We have let our football do the talking.

“We have been tremendous. Our attacking play has been brilliant. As long as we can keep that going I am sure we can get the three points on Sunday.”

Young was speaking to ManUtd.com, PA Sport and BBC Radio Manchester.