Young: It Was An Honour To Be Captain

Ashley Young has said “it was an honour for me to captain Manchester United for the first time”, after leading the Reds through Sunday’s impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea.

As the team’s most experienced player in the absence of Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Chris Smalling, the versatile 31-year-old was given the armband by Jose Mourinho and he duly repaid the manager’s faith with a typically energetic, committed performance on the left flank.

Young was rightly afforded a standing ovation from the United supporters when he was substituted for Tim Fosu-Mensah on 93 minutes and the boss also embraced him on the touchline, in recognition of his industrious contribution. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Ashley described the experience of being captain and reflected on a job well done against Chelsea.

“I’ve had the captaincy midway through a game but to actually lead the team out was fantastic for me,” Young said. “The main thing was to get the result. We’ve got 11 leaders when we’re out there on the pitch, obviously the manager is on the side as well, and when we make changes we’ve got leaders all over the pitch. We have to stick together, times are hard, but you have to carry yourself in the right way, in the right manner. When you’ve got 11 leaders, it helps you all over the pitch.”

Young has become a regular in the team since the turn of the New Year and, asked what he has shown the manager, the former Aston Villa man said: “I’m not too sure, I’m just one of those players who want to fight. I’ve got that fight, that hunger in my belly and I’ve got that desire to want to succeed. A lot of people will say things about me but I just keep my head down and work hard.

“When I’m in training I work every day, I work hard to be in the team and when you’ve got competition for places in such a fantastic squad, it pushes you on. If you were to watch training, there aren’t any challenges that are not in a game. Everybody wants to pull on that shirt, go out there and give 100 per cent. I’m no different to that.”

Ashley’s impressive form prompted one journalist from the national press to ask if he could return to the England squad following a prolonged absence, but the United star would not be drawn. “I think I’m the wrong person to ask, to be honest,” he said. “It’s always an honour to represent my country.

“Maybe one day it might happen again. I’m just concentrating on things at United and wanting to play well here but if I’m called upon then I will be. But that’s down to the England manager.”