WEBBER LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Last updated : 09 January 2005 By Editor

From and interview in The Independent:

"United will always bring defenders or midfielders through the club development system, but they never seem to bring through attackers.

"Attackers never seem to get the chance. I have seen that from being a kid. At 21, what's to say I was going to change it? I didn't want still to be sitting there at the age of 24 in the same situation, going stale with nobody willing to take a risk on me. So I decided a move was the best way to take my career. United had Ruud van Nistelrooy, Diego Forlan, Louis Saha and David Bellion, and after I took my decision they signed Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney, so if I had stayed I would have been even further down the list. In hindsight, it was a good decision."

Webber dismisses any suggestions of bitterness. "No, none at all, I don't hold a grudge against the club, I love the place. I have a lot of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson, and all the coaches at Old Trafford. But I just got to the time in my career when I had to make a decision, and that decision was to leave. That said, I still aim to get back to that level, and will continue to work hard to make sure I do that. Ideally, it would be at United, because even now I'm a United fan and always wanted to be a first-team regular. Who's to say it won't happen in the future?"

Talking about he was affected when his mate Jimmy Davis died last year:

"Looking back now, I know how much Jimmy's death affected me last season. I remained in a state of shock for a long time, even though I didn't fully realise it. But in the summer I managed to clear my mind, come back and get on with my football. It is something I have learned from and gained strength from."

Prospect of beating Liverpool:

"I feel fit, I'm ready to go. If I'm good enough to train I'm good enough to play, good enough to take the knocks. I would just like to get back into it, get on with my football again, especially against Liverpool.

"I have played against them through the ranks, from Under-14s to reserve-team level, but not yet the first team, so I'm keen to show what I can do, because ultimately my aim is a return to the Premiership. I haven't dropped a league to be happy. As long as I'm playing I will try to improve and strive for something better. I have by no means accomplished a fraction of what I want to achieve."