Hours after Manchester United beat Liverpool last month, a group of supporters spotted winger Ashley Young in Manchester City centre with a friend. They were approached and invited into a public house full of happy fans who had been at Anfield that day.
Young accepted the invitation was soon inside among fans, singing away and enjoying the moment. At one point, he stood on seats and started a United chant.
Two years ago, Young would have been best advised to keep a low profile in Manchester. The winger’s stock had sunk after he was rightly castigated for diving. Few United fans would have been sad to see him sold.
His turnaround in fortunes is staggering. David Moyes deserves credit for helping him improve last season, Louis van Gaal even more for showing faith in him from the start.
When United defeated Real Madrid pre-season in Michigan, it was Young who spoke like a player at the top of his game after the match. He had just scored twice in a 3-1 win and slotted into his new manager’s ideas better than anyone.
“The formation gives us more time to play and more space and we’re all enjoying it,” he said.
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It was a false dawn and the 29-year-old Englishman would see his season disrupted by the arrival of Angel di Maria for a British record transfer fee, then a groin and hamstring injury.
Like most of his teammates, he also fell out of favour with his manager.
When United played City away in November, he was not even in the vanquished squad.
United’s No 18 has been one the key players of the club’s brilliant recent revival. The last league game he did not start was United’s February defeat at Swansea City.
He has started all six games since – six straight wins for United as they have overcome some of their biggest rivals home and away. Liverpool and Manchester City, two teams who beat United twice last season, have both been defeated – and in a style absent for much of this term. United are ascendant, their fans delighted, with Young’s performance against Manchester City in Sunday’s 4-2 derby win his best in a red shirt.
His 14th-minute goal – from a cross by another rejuvenated player, Ander Herrera – got United back into the game after a poor start in which they fell behind.
Young, Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini again combined well. As United recovered, they were rampant down the left side against City’s Pablo Zabaleta and Jesus Navas. After 27 minutes, Young charged down the left, combined with Blind with a back heel, then crossed deep for Fellaini to head United in front from the far post.
Young continued to impress as United impressed with their tempo at the start of the second half, flicking the ball and adding moments of magic rarely glimpsed this season.
By the time Young was the first player to embrace Juan Mata after his 66th-minute goal, which put United 3-1 up, his team were on their way to their first derby win in five and their biggest derby win in six years.
But Young was not finished and his afternoon was complete when his in-swinging cross from a 73rd-minute free kick was met by the head of Fellaini.
In the middle of a superb, raucous atmosphere, Old Trafford briefly fell into a stunned lull. Yes, United really were beating City 4-1.
A late Sergio Aguero goal, his 100th for City, did little dampen the mood on a rain-soaked Manchester afternoon and the final whistle brought a huge roar.
United, who have sat behind their neighbours for 18 months, are four points clear of the current champions after six straight wins.
Young was the last United player off the pitch and enjoyed his walk to the tunnel amid a wave of mutual applause with the Stretford End.
He had lost their confidence two years ago. He has won it back with a vengeance.
As he received his man-of-the-match award from teammate Juan Mata, Young said: “It was a magnificent win. It was disappointing to go a goal behind, but we showed character and team spirit to get back in the game. I was delighted to get the goal and get the assist as well.”
Young puts his return to form down to listening to his manager and wanting to repay him. He has done that.
“He was our best player,” smiled Van Gaal. “Involved in three goals. Fantastic.”
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