Manchester United has struggled immensely with offense in the Premier League so far this season, with just five goals – only one more than the lowest-scoring team, Southampton. But what could have made things better for United? Danny Welbeck, according to its former captain.
Garry Neville, during a Sky Sports segment, let out his frustrations with United’s misfiring attack so far this campaign. He pointed out how Welbeck – who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion – has scored four goals so far.
Neville went a trip down memory lane, suggesting that Welbeck never should have left United in 2014. “He’s in better form than any of the United front players, by far. Danny Welbeck, to be fair, should never have been let go at United,” he said, as quoted by The Metro.
Welbeck scores.#BHATOT | 3-2
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 6, 2024
This was a surprising take, as Welbeck rarely came up in any conversation surrounding top clubs since his spell at Arsenal between 2015 and 2020. The Englishman has found a good home at the Amex Stadium, where he has scored 30 goals in 133 appearances – most of them being sporadic.
Neville’s former teammate Roy Keane was also surprised. “We can’t keep saying that about players just because he left.”
The former Valencia manager, however, had an answer ready.
Neville insisted that Manchester United’s biggest problem lies with its depth in attack. If there are strikers who are struggling to score goals, there should be quality fresh legs on the bench to come on and provide the much-needed impetus.
That is what Manchester United lacks. “If you’ve got a squad of 24, 23, and you want to keep five or six strikers, he’s got to be one of those. You’ve got to keep him,” Neville told Roy Keane.
Keane, however, was not convinced, and simply stated that even though Welbeck has found stability at Brighton, he was never ‘Manchester United level’.
Welbeck joined Arsenal in 2014, but never quite lit the Emirates stadium up, justifying Keane’s comments. In fact, things looked even grimmer for him after his stint with Watford, with some even labeling him as not ‘Premier League level’.
Thankfully, he is shining for Brighton with 24/25 being the best start to a season he has ever got – scoring four goals in seven games.
Guardiola has been in England since 2016 and is well-settled in the country. With his brilliance, and England’s talent, the Three Lions could mount up a serious challenge for the World Cup in the US in 2026.
