Wout Weghorst talks ambitions, the Manchester derby, trophy hopes, Ten Hag and more in club interview
Wout Weghorst has given his first full interview as a Red and spoke in detail about his ambitions at the club.
Manchester United completed the signing of Wout Weghorst last week on a six-month loan spell until June 2023. He will then return to his parent club, Burnley, in the summer.
The Dutchman spent the first half of the season on loan at Besiktas, where he scored nine goals and picked up four assists in 19 appearances. However, when United came knocking, he knew the opportunity was too lucrative to pass on.
Weghorst also represented the Netherlands at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, netting twice on the world’s biggest stage against eventual champions Argentina.
Erik ten Hag has acquired the striker to help bolster the squad’s attack and to help manage Anthony Martial’s fitness levels. The Red Devils are the only English club remaining in all four competitions, so reinforcements are key to seeing out the second half of the campaign successfully.
He could make his debut against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, January 18 at Selhurst Park.
Weghorst’s first interview
Weghorst spoke to MUTV upon joining the club. Here are some of the key talking points from the chat:
Q. “Wout, welcome to Manchester United. How excited are you to be able to say you are a United player?”
“Yeah, [I’m] really excited, of course. It’s a great feeling. The last week, of course, when I heard for the first time of their interest it was special and yeah, [I’m] proud that everything is done now. I’m a United player.”
Q. “For clarification for our fans, how do you pronounce your first name? Is it like ‘Vout Veghorst’?”
“Yeah, I take it. I go for it. In Dutch, you say like ‘Vehr-horst’, but the G is, of course, in England, a little bit difficult so, in my time at Burnley, it was also Weghorst. That’s okay.”
Q. “What attracted you to this move at this stage of your career?”
“[It’s] good for me. Also, to be honest, I think it’s the right moment as I feel as a footballer – I’m 30 years old now. I also already have experience in the Premier League – that was not as successful as I hoped – and I am really waiting and looking forward to getting back here because, in my opinion, it is still the biggest competition in the world and now I’m going to play for one of the biggest clubs in England. For me, [to play for] the biggest club is, of course, amazing, and as I’ve always said as a football player, and also as a human being, the stage I am at now, the [experience] that I have, I am ready for it. This is the right moment to take on this great challenge, of course.”
Q. “What are your first impressions of Carrington and here at Old Trafford?”
“I have been here for three days and Carrington training ground, of course, it is top class, everything. The training we’ve had already was great and, of course, I was at the [derby] match. It was the first time for me to come to Old Trafford and I always said there are a few stadiums in the world that I only want to go there if I am capable to play there, it is one of them. So for the first time [at Old Trafford], that was actually a really special moment and the atmosphere and everything was really wonderful.”
Q. “What a game. Did your family enjoy it as well?”
“Yes, yeah, the kids were also there. I think they watched it for 20 minutes. They spoke 15 minutes with me and then, after 20 minutes, my girl took them inside and I could watch the game and take in the atmosphere better. So it was a lovely, lovely game.”
Q. “You’ve played in the Premier League before, how much are you looking forward to being back in the league?”
“Yeah, really. For me, it was not done, it was not finished. It didn’t work out the first time as I hoped and I’m really hungry to show myself, to help the team. Of course, we are on a really good track now. The last couple of weeks, months actually, it’s going really positive here and I just want to contribute and give my best and give my all for the club and I try to be a part of the successful [direction] we are going.”
Q. “Do you know anybody in the squad ahead of visiting?”
“I’m good, of course, with the Dutch guys, with Donny [van de Beek] and Tyrell [Malacia]. And for the rest, I didn’t know any guys. I played against some of them, of course, but, yeah, actually the first three days, [I’ve had] a really great and warm welcome and I think it is a really nice group of lads, I already noticed, so I don’t think that will be any problem.”
Q. “What are your own personal ambitions as a Manchester United player?”
“Trophies. That’s quite easy. Trophies, and that’s also what the manager told me about, the expectations that are there. Also my role and, yeah, that’s also something I want to bring. Like I earlier said in the interview, I’m just going to give everything I have for the club to be successful, to win the games and, of course, to win trophies. We are still active in four competitions, so yeah, four trophies to go, that’s the only thing that’s counting, and I think also that fits for a big a club as United is.”
Q. “You mentioned the manager. How aware are you of his excellent record and what he achieved? You faced him or his teams in the Eredivisie perhaps?”
“Yes, yes. They are good. I’m from the Netherlands, of course the players from the national team spoke always a lot about him. The way he is training, the way he is living football, living winning also. So, for me, these are the first days. Of course, I know him quite longer but never worked on a real serious [basis] like we are now. So for me it’s new, but, yeah, you can feel already what the guys have been speaking about. I’m really looking forward to contributing and working together.”
Q. “You will wear the no.27. Why choose that number?”
“Yeah, good. Of course, I looked into the ones that are free or available. Two and seven will make nine, of course – a striker’s number. I had a feeling with it and of course when I came here I heard it was Alex [Telles]’s number, he got loaned out now. So yeah, I first had to ask him if that was ok, so I said to them [United] that was for me important and then in the end there was no problem so thanks to him also. So yeah, I go for the 27 and actually it’s just because I had a good feeling with it.”
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