United move a ‘no-brainer’, says Young

ASHLEY YOUNG says the decision to quit Aston Villa for Manchester United was a “no-brainer”.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the coming season, it was always likely Young would be leaving Villa Park.

Villa manager Alex McLeish knew it would be futile to even try to stop him by the time he was installed as Gerard Houllier’s successor, while Liverpool were said to be in the hunt and it was claimed Young was interested.

However, the 26-year-old had already decided where his future lay. It was just a question of confirming his £17 million switch to Old Trafford.

“There was never any doubt once I knew United were interested,” Young said. “When one of the biggest clubs in the world comes after you, whether to sign for them or not is a no-brainer.

“I was delighted to hear about their interest. I just wanted to get my signature on the paper.”

Ahead of England’s Euro 2012 encounter with Switzerland in June, Young revealed the Champions League final had fuelled a long-held desire to be involved in European football’s elite competition.

When the opening group stage encounters come around in September, it will represent a step into the unknown for Young, who began his career at Watford.

However, with 15 England caps to his name, Young has enough self-belief not to question whether he can be a success.

“I have confidence in my own ability,” he said. “I always said I wanted to play at the highest level. Manchester United is that.

“This move gives me the opportunity to play in the Champions League and go for a 20th title. That just says it all. The history of the club is fantastic and I am delighted to be part of it.”

Playing for United brings its own pressures though.

After two decades of gathering silverware, challengers are queuing up to knock Alex Ferguson and his team off their perch, as they did themselves to Liverpool with a record 19th championship last season.

Yet for every United player there is an unspoken truth that continues to drive them on, namely not wanting to be a United player that wins nothing.

“I want to be part of a winning team,” Young added. “From the first day I arrived, the manager has been talking about the winning mentality.

“You can see the desire in training. This club is all about winning. The 20th title. The FA Cup. The League Cup. Whatever it is the club is challenging for, I want a medal round my neck.”

At the present time, it is not clear how Young will end up being deployed.

He occupied a wide role against New England Revolution in Boston last week, but was given more freedom to roam in Wednesday’s seven-goal hammering of Seattle Sounders.

“I can play left, right, off the front striker or as a main striker,” he said. “It is the manager’s decision, not mine. I just have to concentrate on my own game and wherever I am picked, do myself justice.

“The manager bought me for a reason, to get assists and goals and work hard for the team. If I can do that every time I am selected, my job is done.”

Meanwhile Wayne Rooney cannot wait to launch Manchester United’s season in the Community Shield against local rivals Manchester City.

Thanks to United’s record 19th league title and the ending of City’s 35-year trophy drought in last term’s FA Cup final, the two Manchester clubs go head to head at Wembley on August 7 looking to establish some early superiority.

It already seems patently obvious the Blues represent a clear danger to the Red Devils’ hopes of retaining their Premier League crown, which Rooney confirms is the number one priority this season.

But that cliched traditional curtain-raiser takes on added meaning purely because of the side United are going to face. “When you play at a club like Manchester United, the goal is to win all the competitions,” Rooney said.

“It is true our priority is to keep our Premier League title, but we won’t ignore any competition.

“We want to win everything, starting with the Community Shield. There is nothing better than a derby to start the season.”