Ashley Young warns Premier League high-fliers Manchester United are gunning for them
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Ashley Young has warned the Premier League high-fliers Manchester United are coming to get them.
After smashing Chelsea on Sunday and blowing the title race wide open, the Red Devils skipper for the day insisted that his club still have ambitions to chase the likes of City, Spurs and Liverpool.
Many critics have assumed United will soft peddle in the league to concentrate all their efforts on securing a Champions’ League place by winning the Europa League.
But even though Young is confident they will make the semis and become automatic favourites for that competition, he explained that no one at Old Trafford is thinking of anything but a massive Premier League charge on the run in.
“There have been high standards here since I signed for the club and we want to be pushing on,” he declared.
(Photo: PA)
(Photo: REUTERS)
“A lot has been said about how we want to finish fourth but I am that kind of person who wants to achieve more than that. I want to finish higher than that.
“Hopefully we have a semi final coming up. If we can play like we did against Chelsea then I am sure we can get through against Anderlecht and into the semi finals. We want to aim as high as possible.”
Young led United brilliantly as they exposed serious weakness in a Chelsea side that had looked invincible for much of the season.
It means the title race is back on, with Spurs knowing they can put massive pressure on the leaders. But Young believes his own club can win their remaining games and put pressure on the teams above them, particularly City and Liverpool.
And he admitted it was a big moment to lead such a big club through a massive game. “It was an honour for me to captain Manchester United. To lead the team out was fantastic for me,” he added.
“We have leaders all over the pitch. You have to stick together. Times are hard.”
The next challenge is completing the job against Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter final, and Young believes United have a point to prove after the draw in the away leg.
“We have to approach it like we have Chelsea. In Brussels they had one chance and scored and we were disappointed after the game. It felt like a loss,” he said.
“We have an away goal and are now at home and I am sure if we play like we did today then we will be okay.”
Perhaps the biggest bonus from the Chelsea game was the reemergence of exciting young talent Marcus Rashford, and Young, who has helped guide the teenager, believes United have a genuine star on their hands.
“I said it all along that when he was coming through the youth team and reserves you could see there was something special about him. He plays the game with hunger It comes natural to him,” the winger added.
“When he does things quick I don’t think there are many defenders who can live with him. When he can get in behind he is a threat. He has a massive future in front of him not only for Manchester United but for England as well.”