After Danny Welbeck scored the extra-time winner against Newcastle to send Brighton into the FA Cup quarter-finals, an unexpected name popped up on his mobile phone.
“[Sir Alex Ferguson] actually phoned me after the Newcastle goal,” he told Football Focus.
“He talked about the goal and the performance. He was buzzing and to have that sort of connection, he is a manager who is always looking out for his players, always wants the best for them, and still to this day is in contact.”
Welbeck’s career started under Ferguson at Manchester United where he was part of the squad that won the Premier League in 2013.
The striker moved to Arsenal the following year and helped them to lift the FA Cup twice, something he is now hoping to help Brighton achieve as the Seagulls prepare to host Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
With Ferguson and then Arsene Wenger, it was not a bad pair of managers for him to have worked under, and two who he says influence who he is today.
“Sir Alex Ferguson got success in his own way, Arsene Wenger had success in his way,” he added. There’s different ways to reach success.
“Them two managers played a huge part in my life, not just my career.”
Watch the full interview with Welbeck on Football Focus, BBC One, Saturday 29 March 11:30 GMT.
The FA Cup quarter-final tie between Brighton and Nottingham Forest (17:15 GMT) is live on BBC One and iPlayer.
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