Ashley Young opens up on secret diet of sweets and chocolate as he reveals he loved nickname Antonio Conte gave him
ASHLEY YOUNG was labelled “a machine” by Antonio Conte during their time together at Inter Milan.
And even now, aged 37, Young is showing no signs of rust.
On Sunday, the Premier League’s very own Peter Pan faces Manchester United, another one of his old clubs, as the former England international looks to help Aston Villa continue their unlikely push for Europe.
It has been an incredible turnaround at Villa Park since Unai Emery took charge in October following the sacking of Steven Gerrard.
And the versatile Young, currently playing at right-back, has proved to be one of the team’s most consistent performers.
The other day in training, at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath HQ, boss Emery joked that the father-of-three looked 25.
In reality, he is three months older than Wayne Rooney — and SIX YEARS older than Spurs’ interim boss Ryan Mason.
Young, who was first at Villa between 2007-11 and returned in June 2021, said: “Players look at me and say, ‘How are you still going?’.
“You need to have the hunger but you also have to be fit.
“I know how to keep my body in good condition and to be ready for the next game.
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“To still be competing at 37 is some achievement.
“Playing for Antonio at Inter made me even fitter, although it was still tough.
“But it was nice to be called ‘a machine’ by him and, hopefully, this machine can keep going.
“Last season, I started a game in central midfield for Villa alongside Carney Chukwuemeka and I asked him when he was born.
“He said it was October 2003 and I told him my debut for Watford was September 2003.
“So here we were, starting a game together and I just realised he had not even been born when I made my debut.
“So, yes, I do feel a little bit old sometimes. But equally, I am here to talk to the young players and help them.
“A lot is said about the young generation of players and some think they have already done it all, but others want to improve.
“I spent two days training with Jacob Ramsey and instantly knew he will be a massive player not just for Villa but for this country.
“I have taken him under my wing in the gym and we talk about how to do the right things.
“If you go back into my 20s, there is no way you would have caught me near an ice bath.
“But having looked into the science, that place is now like a best friend.
“I am always in there and need it to recover.
“A lot is said about diet and to know what to eat and drink.
“But I don’t cut out everything. I have a sweet tooth — I blame my dad for that — and I have got a cupboard full of sweets, chocolates and biscuits.
“I would like to say I only eat them after a game but . . . ”
Villa travel to Old Trafford, where Young was club captain during his 8½ years at United, on the back of an incredible unbeaten Premier League run spanning ten matches — which includes eight wins.
The transformation under Emery has been staggering.
Young said: “He has brought in a winning mentality.
“He has fans thinking of Europe, which is an incredible turnaround as we were looking over our shoulders when he arrived.
What was said about him at Arsenal was unfair but he took it on the chin and is back in the Prem and wants to win trophies at Villa.
Ashley Young on Unai Emery
“He lives and breathes football. On the bus after an away game, he immediately has his laptop out looking at a replay of the game.
“His experience is so important. At half-time, the players could be having a heated discussion and he says, ‘Calm down, just relax’ and we are like, ‘We cannot relax, we need to talk about this’.
And he adds, ‘Stay calm, stick to the game plan and remember the importance of resilience and keeping the ball’.
“I thought what was said about him at Arsenal was unfair but he took it on the chin and is back in the Premier League and wants to win trophies at Villa.”
Young’s contract runs out this summer, although surely one of Villa’s best bits of business would be to give him an extra season.
Maybe even two, which would bring him within a few weeks of his 40th birthday in July 2025.
He added: “Of course I want to stay. It is a fantastic club, I have enjoyed my time here and I don’t want it to be over.
“I know I’m not getting any younger but I am nowhere near ready to retire.
“I still have that drive. I am a winner. I played European football at Villa the first time around and to help the club achieve that again would be one of the biggest things in my career.”