Danny Welbeck has revitalized his career on the south coast. Photo: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
Danny Welbeck has a unique turn of phrase. when it comes to describing how the opponents are now evaluating Brighton & Hove Albion.
«After the games, players come up to us and say: 'You guys are cool' and stuff like that.» Welbeck says. "We get a lot of good feedback" Whether Brighton "bopping" or "bosses" it is, there is no doubt that under the leadership of Roberto De Zerbi they are one of the most formidable and attractive teams in the Premier League.
On Sunday they are set to move up another stage by reaching their first FA Cup final. 40 years later — since losing after the replay and after the painful "Smith must score" moment (when striker Gordon Smith was thwarted by goalkeeper Gary Bailey in the last minutes of extra time in the first leg against Manchester United).
United, the club that Welbeck, who was born in Longsight, supported and played for, is back on track for the Wembley semi-final and he's in an expansive mood, discussing how Brighton have 'three ways to play' . 34; against each team like there really is no #9 what it's like to work with "animated" and "special" De Zerby, being a centre-forward nicknamed «Death Guy Welbz»; former United teammate Ravel Morrison says he should now be known as 'Papa Welbs'.
At 32, Welbeck, a father of young children, became a father in Brighton. #39; growing squad. Indeed, there is a picture of him on social media with tiny teammate Tariq Lamptey, which is playfully captioned: «Nice report at the parents' evening.» Enjoy dinner on the way home for my liccle [small one]."
«Manchester United had so many players to look up to, senior professionals.» Welbeck says when asked about his role at Brighton and how he feels about the player's age. "I think for me it was Darren Fletcher, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown."
Their influence remained on him and Evan Ferguson, Brighton. The exciting 18-year-old striker has opened up about being mentored by Welbeck. popularity is not limited to the locker room. Photo: Getty Images/Charlotte Wilson
"The position Evan and I are playing right now is probably new to both of us" Welbeck talks about De Zerby demanding the Brighton game. “Obviously I was in Evan’s shoes getting into the first team and yes, so to have this senior pro talk to him about some things, new positions, new runs and things like I’m always there to help. Evan trained with us for over a year before he even made his debut. He was fantastic"
So what's the "position" he plays "new" to Welbeck? "I don't want to give too much away" he talks about Brighton's flexible style before adding, «But I think every team analyzes us anyway, so… not really No. 9.
“You are also working on creating a game for defenders and midfielders. You engage in this buildup and then move up the field as fast as you can and try to exploit certain areas of whoever we are facing. It's different every week. We could start with one formation and finish with another if we went further up the field.
The change of formation under De Zerby is fascinating.
«I wouldn't say we spend too much time on the opposition, we obviously have to respect who we play against, but it's more about what we want to do.» with the ball" Welbeck says. «Sometimes we get in a game and we face an opponent and we have three ways to play against them because we've been working on it in the week… We've always got a way around it because we're always ready.»
With many coaches accused of not having a Plan B, let alone a Plan C, de Zerby is at the forefront of tactical innovation.
The Italian took over from Brighton manager Graham Potter when Welbeck signed an initially one-year contract in October 2020 after Watford's contract was terminated and the team went from strength to strength. As is the case with many of their players, Brighton may be fighting to keep the manager. De Zerby was a huge influence on Welbeck, who of course worked under Sir Alex Ferguson and at Arsenal with Arsene Wenger. "He is a special manager" he says of De Zerby. "For me, having it at this point in my career is also very helpful."
Photo: Getty Images/Glyn Kirk
But what about his temper?
"Yes, we have one-on-one mornings, fights and all" Welbeck is joking. "No, it's great to see the passion and you see how much football means to him and how much he wants his team to play.
"To radiate that energy, it gets transferred to the players . Players then want to be on board, understand everything he says, and succeed.
There is no doubt that Brighton have done well this campaign and will certainly not face a weary United as an underdog, while Welbeck has a history of knocking them out of the competition by scoring the winning goal in the quarter-finals in 2015 — in his first game. . returned to Old Trafford after moving to Arsenal, who won the Cup. Welbeck missed the final with an injury but scored when they beat Chelsea to win the trophy again two years later.
"It also gives you the desire to pick up more trophies" Welbeck says. “If you have the opportunity and you can go for it, you have to go all out… We have players who have won trophies and the last one is Alexis [Mac Allister] who won the World Championship. So it's always great to have such players in the team.”
Mack Allister, who won the greatest trophy of all with Argentina, shows the quality of Brighton's player and manager. Now attract and, most importantly, develop. If they had won the FA Cup it would have been the first trophy Brighton had won in their 122 year history. It would also be just a reward for their incredible progress, like the first qualification for a European competition.
"It was an incredible journey" Welbeck says. “You have to accept the reality of where we come from and how far we have come. "This is a really good story. But the guys here don't stop there and we just want to keep pushing and pushing. You never know where you might end up."
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