“I cannot pinpoint why this is happening” – Man Utd star laments disastrous form

Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck has admitted that he has been left confused by his team’s poor performances this season.

United’s 2-1 defeat to Sunderland in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final was their third in a row and third defeat in a week – their worst run for 13 years.

Welbeck and his team-mates won the Premier League title last season but they currently lie in seventh place, 11 points off the title race pace set by Manchester City and Arsenal.

David Moyes’ side also crashed out of the FA Cup last week, losing 2-1 at home to Swansea City. That came just days after losing 2-1 again at Old Trafford. On that occasion, it was Tottenham who won.

Their constant failure to pick up valuable points in the Premier League means their place in the Champions League next season is in serious jeopardy.

Welbeck told Sky Sports: “I cannot pinpoint one thing why this is happening. We were champions last season and we know that the consistency in our game has not been good enough.

“It is a new experience for us all, but the main thing we have to do is look at the next game. Obviously we have to put it right but you can’t look too far ahead.”

United now host Swansea again in the Premier League on Saturday and Welbeck knows only he and his team-mates can rectify things.

The England international added: “The next match is the most important. It is Swansea at Old Trafford now and we really have to get three points.

“It is up to us all on the pitch and the staff to do it. It is not the press or anyone else who are going to change this, it is ourselves.

“It is over 10 years since United lost three games in a row, so we know we have to turn it around and win the next match.

“Being a Manchester lad and being a United fan, there is extra passion inside me and it does hurt me when I see the team losing. It hurts a lot to see United not winning.

“I can understand why fans are concerned. We are not around the Champions League spots at the moment. We need to get our form back and just win the next matches.

“The manager is very upbeat. He lets the players know he wants to do really well and the players also want to win games for United.

“Losing three on the bounce though is really not good enough and we want to put that right.”