One of Manchester United’s most impressive players this season has been Chris Smalling. His vast improvement this season has been a shock to many fans as prior to this season he has been unable to hold down a starting role.
This campaign is proving to be his breakout year and one man who he’s really impressed is his manager, Louis van Gaal.
The Red Devils boss has gone as far as to say that Smalling will one day become the captain of Manchester United:
“Wayne Rooney is the captain and so you don’t have worry and then Michael Carrick, but when they are gone then Chris Smalling can do that, so I push him also in that situation.”
The Dutch coach has expressed his delight at Smalling’s improvement which he has said is all down to his own hard work. He says that the Englishman becoming more vocal on the field has helped him to progress:
“He has done it by himself.
“There is a lot of advice. It is about how we defend as a team. He 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.
“David De Gea has the best view and then the central defenders so I demand of my defenders that they speak.”
Chris Smalling has become more confident with each start for Manchester United, and with that his performances have also improved.
He’ll face a tough test against Manchester City this weekend, even if Sergio Agüero is still out with a hamstring injury.
