Young: I have the hunger & desire to play every game
Ashley Young played his 34th game of the domestic campaign, more than he has racked up in any of his seven seasons at the club, and impressed again as Manchester United defeated Arsenal 2-1.
Although he turns 33 in July, the fire is still burning in Young's belly with the Emirates FA Cup final and a possible place in the England squad for the World Cup in his sights.
"I still have the hunger and desire to win," said Young. "The same as I had when I was 21.
"I am nearly 33 now, and getting on a bit, but I still have that hunger and desire to go out and playing every game. I know my legs can still take me through games and I have showed that with the number of games I have played this season."
Beating Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League and Tottenham in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final, since late February, has highlighted the strength of the Reds’ resilience. The 2-1 win against the Gunners was the latest note to our rivals and it sealed the top-four spot that will see Champions League football at Old Trafford again next term.
"We want to keep winning to the end of the season," he added. "The games are there and there are points to pick up. Now we want to keep up the momentum to the end and the FA Cup final. We have to put down a marker for next season with the way we perform from now on.
“It is building towards next season. It has been one of those seasons when, around Christmas, we were drawing games, there were late goals against us and, when you look back at those kind of games, then you think the season could have been different.
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“It wasn’t meant to be but we have put down a marker against the top four, the top-six clubs, but it is more than that, we have to win at other clubs as well. We have to win more games than we have done. It has been one of those seasons. If we can finish with the number of points we know we can then that points total would have won us the league in a different season but it is not to be.
“But we have to keep the momentum now. It is nice to rubber stamp the Champions league qualification and, having been second for so long, we want to finish that off. When you are winning games, it gives you confidence. When you are playing well, it gives you confidence but, at times [against Arsenal], we were not playing as well as we know we can do.
“It shows the strength in depth in the squad to grind out results, though. We showed our spirit again. For huge parts of the game, it was a bit of us and a bit of them but it showed the spirit and character we have to play to 90 plus minutes and we know we can always score goals."
Whether we’ve played well or not this club loves a late winner! Onwards to Brighton on Friday, got to keep up the winning feeling 🤘🏾👹 pic.twitter.com/BHmYbGPksx
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) April 29, 2018