Danny Welbeck claims Brighton came up against the ‘best Manchester United team in a while’ following his team’s defeat at Old Trafford.
United claimed a third successive Premier League win for the first time since February 2024 as they beat Brighton 4-2 on Saturday.
Impressive summer signing Matheus Cunha broke the deadlock midway through the first half before Casemiro’s deflected strike put United two goals head.
Bryan Mbeumo added United’s third on the hour mark to seemingly put the game to bed before Welbeck and Charalampos Kostoulas gave Brighton hope with two late goals.
The visitors were chasing a dramatic equaliser when Mbeumo ended their resistance and sealed Manchester United’s victory with his second deep into injury-time.
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A fourth successive league win sees the Red Devils climb into the top-four before several of their rivals in the top-half of the division play their games in hand on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim was desperately fighting to save his job just weeks ago but wins over Premier League champions Liverpool and Brighton have drastically improved the mood at Old Trafford.
Speaking after the Old Trafford clash, Brighton forward Welbeck – who used to play for United – said: ‘We are a bit gutted. There was part of the game early on where we dominated but a few silly mistakes led to goals.
‘We are up against quality so they will punish you. It is a learning curve of us. We showed great character at the end but it wasn’t good enough.
‘We put ourselves in a really difficult position. We have a great group and everyone is going to keep fighting whatever the score is.
‘We got two goals and were closing to maybe getting a third. It didn’t happen but it is a good sign we showed character.’
On his former club, Welbeck added to Sky Sports: ‘It is the best [Manchester United] side we have faced in a while.
‘They were really organised and structure, they always have incredible players and today they really punished our mistakes.
‘A difficult game but one we can look back and analyse. I do believe we can come here and get the three points.’
Amorim was full of praise for his United team after their latest win, telling reporters: ‘It is a good feeling.
‘To listen to the crowd, the joy, it is important. We need to enjoy that today but then prepare for the next one.
‘Everything can change really quickly, but if you have that feeling and still feel confident to work, we are going to be a better team.’
Cunha, meanwhile, who scored his first goal for Manchester United following his £62m summer move from Wolves, added: ‘It is hard to say something now. I have worked so hard for this.
‘This is the club and this performance needs to be common and normal. I feel so good to be part of this.
‘My first goal here at Old Trafford, I dreamed a lot of this but of course the win is much more important.’
Manchester United face Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest at the City Ground next weekend, while Brighton – now in the bottom-half of the table – take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
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