I’ve started 18 games on the trot so I must be doing something right says under-fire Man Utd star
WOUT WEGHORST says he must be doing something right as the manager keeps picking him.
The Dutchman has started every game since his arrival at Manchester United but scored only two goals in that time.
It has led to frustration from fans and pundits alike but the player himself is happy as long as manager Erik ten Hag has faith having named him in his first XI for 18 straight games.
Weghorst, 30, said: “That’s a lot of matches and it shows the trust in me. It also shows that I am doing a good job for the team.
“That was the thing I wanted when I came here – to contribute and try and help the club to be successful to win trophies.
“We have one now. We have two more to go with the Europa League and FA Cup, and we want to get as high as possible in the table and definitely top four for the Champions League.
“So it just shows me that I am being part of it. And being part of us being successful and that appreciation, that’s a good thing.”
The problem is United fans are wondering how much higher they would be in the table with a good No 9.
Weghorst, who can also play as a ten, has scored one goal away to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.
Then he got his first at Old Trafford, and last of the night, in the 4-1 drubbing of Real Betis in the Europa League.
Sunday brought a familiar tale with just three touches in the opposition box, all shots, two of which were on target.
His best chance after just 12 minutes resulted in a shockingly weak effort from the edge of the area which barely reached the goalkeeper.
The absence of Anthony Martial with a hip injury has undoubtedly lead to more games for the player.
It is unlikely his loan from Burnley via Besiktas will be extended or made into a permanent move.
Still for now the 6ft 6in frontman is happy to enjoy being part of what could end up as a very special season.
He has already won the only trophy of his career with the Carabao Cup triumph over Newcastle and now wants a treble with United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and last eight in the Europa league.
He said: “The match against Newcastle at Wembley was a great experience, a lovely atmosphere in the stadium, it has something special.
“We want to win trophies. The one we have now just showed us that we can do it again; we are all hungry for more, all of us.”
United are facing the most successful team in Europa League history in Sevilla in their quarter-final.
The Spanish side won it twice as the then UEFA Cup and four more times after it became the Europa League in 2009.
They also knocked United out at the semi-final stage in 2019-20 and beat them in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2017-18.