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Brighton star admits it is not ‘not as weird as it once was’ to face ex-club Manchester United

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Danny Welbeck of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates a goal which was later disallowed by VAR during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Danny Welbeck admits it is no longer weird to face former club Manchester United

Ahead of the FA Cup semi-final tie, Brighton and Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck admits it is no longer weird to face his former club Manchester United.

United face Brighton in the second semi-final of the competition at Wembley after Manchester City booked their place in the final with a comfortable win over Sheffield United on Saturday.

Welbeck was a youth product of the United Academy before making his senior debut for the Red Devils during the 2008/09 season. He moved to Arsenal in 2014, played for Watford after and signed for Brighton as a free agent in 2020.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Danny Welbeck of Brighton & Hove Albion is challenged by Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers  during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion at Molineux on April 30, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England
Brighton striker Danny Welbeck (R) does not feel weird facing his former club Manchester United anymore. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

So, it has been some time since the 32-year-old left Old Trafford. No wonder he doesn’t feel as weird now. Here’s what he said (h/t Manchester Evening News):

“I’ve played games against United multiple times now, and it’s now not as weird as it once was. It was worse when I went to Old Trafford. You go there into the away dressing room and you’re warming up on a different side of the pitch, and walking out on the other side.

“It’s just little weird things like that, because you’re so used to going to a certain place. And early on I was playing against players I’ve been with previously.”

Despite not being a regular starter for the Seagulls, Welbeck has 17 goals and nine assists in just over 4,000 minutes of football in almost three seasons.

He could play a key part in derailing United’s bid to win a cup double though. Brighton, under Roberto De Zerbi, have been in sensational form. They are in the race to finish in the top six and would fancy their chances of lifting the FA Cup.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag’s men have to be at their best to beat Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

So, Erik ten Hag’s men have to be at their best to get the desired result. With no Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in defence, United looked out of sorts against Sevilla and deservedly lost. If the same mistakes are repeated later today, Brighton will punish them too.

Marcus Rashford came off the bench on Thursday and must start if the Red Devils have to carry a threat going forward. Bruno Fernandes may hold the key in linking things from midfield to attack. The back-line consisting of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof should do better in every aspect of their game.

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All in all, it is a big game. A defeat today and we could question the type of season United have had. Bowing out of two cup competitions in the space of three days would not be great.

Written by Mizgan Masani

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