Striker reveals the never-say-die attitude he was raised with at Old Trafford and how his relationship with Tom Cleverley has helped both players adapt to the first team
Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck says that he has been brought up with a winning mentality at Old Trafford and that the club want to beat every team that they come up against.
The 20-year-old had been in fine form for United this season up until a hamstring injury picked up during the 8-2 victory over Arsenal forced him out for a number of weeks, but he has returned well and secured an England call-up.
"It is really important at United that you’ve been brought up with that winning mentality," he told the club's official website.
"It’s bred into you to win everything you take part in. That’s Manchester United for you, a never-say-die attitude as you see time and time again.
"We’re going into different games but there’s always one aim – to win the game. We don’t go into a game and try to get one point thinking that’s okay.
"Being at United, you always get quite disappointed if you don’t get all three points as you believe you can go into every single game and win it.
"I felt I’d really come into my own when I scored my first goal of the season against Tottenham. There’s no better feeling than scoring in front of the Stretford End. I aim to emulate that feeling so many more times."
Welbeck also said that Tom Cleverley breaking into the first team at the same time has helped him because they have a good understanding both on and off the pitch.
"We’ve been playing with each other since we were little kids. Just to come through to the first-team is a big positive. We’re good friends on and off the pitch, we’ve got a good relationship.
"We’ve been at England Under-21s together and, if we’re rooming, it’s us two together. We are close friends and have got a good understanding on the pitch.
"He knows my game and I know his. He’s come up through the same Academy, with the same coaches and it’s great.
"The coaches take credit for everything. From the Under-9s coach Eddie Leach up to the Reserves with Warren Joyce – and Paul McGuinness with the Under-18s, who is a really good coach and probably taught us the main trade of our game."
However, the past few months haven't been all positive for Welbeck, who was injured right as his season threatened to take off, as well as suffering defeat with England at the European U-21 Championships.
"I was devastated to pull up like that [against Arsenal], after getting a few starts under my belt in Premier League games and feeling really good.
"I got the scan done and, from then on, we knew what the problem was. I couldn’t sit back and moan. I had to get into training every single day and just follow the programme the physios put down for me. You’ve just got to make sure you come back as flying as you were before you got injured.
"[The European Under 21s Championship is] a big tournament and we were very disappointed. We lost in the last game, which I think was probably our best performance as a team.
"It was a bit disheartening to go out in the last couple of minutes – very disheartening, in fact."
But Welbeck has now earned a call-up to the senior squad, and is back in the Red Devils team in what he calls an "exciting time" to be a United player.
"We’ve got off to a good start and I think the team is playing well. We have been really attacking, getting the ball back, winning it and attacking.
"It’s exciting to be part of it and in and around this squad. I think the morale is really good. Everyone’s really up for it."
The 20-year-old had been in fine form for United this season up until a hamstring injury picked up during the 8-2 victory over Arsenal forced him out for a number of weeks, but he has returned well and secured an England call-up.
"It is really important at United that you’ve been brought up with that winning mentality," he told the club's official website.
"It’s bred into you to win everything you take part in. That’s Manchester United for you, a never-say-die attitude as you see time and time again.
"We’re going into different games but there’s always one aim – to win the game. We don’t go into a game and try to get one point thinking that’s okay.
"Being at United, you always get quite disappointed if you don’t get all three points as you believe you can go into every single game and win it.
"I felt I’d really come into my own when I scored my first goal of the season against Tottenham. There’s no better feeling than scoring in front of the Stretford End. I aim to emulate that feeling so many more times."
Welbeck also said that Tom Cleverley breaking into the first team at the same time has helped him because they have a good understanding both on and off the pitch.
"We’ve been playing with each other since we were little kids. Just to come through to the first-team is a big positive. We’re good friends on and off the pitch, we’ve got a good relationship.
"We’ve been at England Under-21s together and, if we’re rooming, it’s us two together. We are close friends and have got a good understanding on the pitch.
"He knows my game and I know his. He’s come up through the same Academy, with the same coaches and it’s great.
"The coaches take credit for everything. From the Under-9s coach Eddie Leach up to the Reserves with Warren Joyce – and Paul McGuinness with the Under-18s, who is a really good coach and probably taught us the main trade of our game."
However, the past few months haven't been all positive for Welbeck, who was injured right as his season threatened to take off, as well as suffering defeat with England at the European U-21 Championships.
"I was devastated to pull up like that [against Arsenal], after getting a few starts under my belt in Premier League games and feeling really good.
"I got the scan done and, from then on, we knew what the problem was. I couldn’t sit back and moan. I had to get into training every single day and just follow the programme the physios put down for me. You’ve just got to make sure you come back as flying as you were before you got injured.
"[The European Under 21s Championship is] a big tournament and we were very disappointed. We lost in the last game, which I think was probably our best performance as a team.
"It was a bit disheartening to go out in the last couple of minutes – very disheartening, in fact."
But Welbeck has now earned a call-up to the senior squad, and is back in the Red Devils team in what he calls an "exciting time" to be a United player.
"We’ve got off to a good start and I think the team is playing well. We have been really attacking, getting the ball back, winning it and attacking.
"It’s exciting to be part of it and in and around this squad. I think the morale is really good. Everyone’s really up for it."
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