Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has certainly made an impression on his Manager Louis van Gaal, because the Dutchman is actually calling Smalling by his correct name now. You’ll recall the “Mike Smalling” incident. All kidding aside, Van Gaal believes Smalling could be a future captain of this team.
When the United manager was asked who the club’s future captain might be, he said:
“Wayne Rooney is the captain and so you don’t have to worry and then Michael Carrick but when they are gone then Chris Smalling can do that. So I push him also in that situation. Every player makes the steps by himself to improve. I put him in the situation and I help him in the situation and I advise and the player can take it on board or not. It is his responsibility. He has done it by himself. There is a lot of advice.”
“It is about how we defend as a team. Smalling is a part of that and I wanted him to speak. He also has the talent to speak. That makes him easy to coach. Because of that I made him a leader of the team. He has made steps and also in a tactical way.
“When you give instruction in terms of organisation you need someone to understand that. He is a structured person. He accepted it more quicker. David de Gea [the goalkeeper] has the best view and then the central defenders so I demand of my defenders that they speak. They need also an overview. I put him in that situation and then he can develop or not. It is his choice.”
Chris Smalling has certainly earned this high praise. A tall imposing figure, his play this season has certainly exceeded expectations.
You can watch the full video of the entire press conference where Van Gaal mistakenly refers to Smalling by the first name of Mike. Good times!
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