Chris Smalling claims Manchester United’s impressive defensive record under Jose Mourinho is down to the club’s strength in numbers.
His future at Old Trafford had come under doubt after he spent much of the campaign on the bench, with Marcos Rojo, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones playing exceptionally well this season.
While Smalling hasn’t been anywhere near as good as he was last year under Louis van Gaal, he has been solid since his return, making a few minor mistakes as he eases back into the first-team.
Speaking about the strengths of United side, Smalling insists they’ve improved as they’ve gotten more comfortable around each other.
“Yes definitely,” he said.
“I think in training we’re often playing with different partners and in any given game you never know what sort of forwards you’re going to be up against.
“I think a lot of that understanding is based around our training and what we do on a daily basis but I feel very comfortable with all of them and likewise they all feel comfortable because we play with each other every day.”
United have the third best defensive record in the Premier League this season and Jones and Rojo were performing so well that Mourinho was allegedly turned off a deal for Benfica’s Victor Lindelof.
Hopes are they can keep up the impressive showings, especially with Bailly’s return to the side following his commitments to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.