Sir Alex Ferguson praises Chris Smalling’s ‘outstanding contribution’ to Manchester United’s season

Chris Smalling(Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Players

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had no doubts about Chris Smalling‘s ability when he was thrust into the starting line-up against bitter rivals Manchester City earlier this month.

The former Fulham man has been playing alongside Nemanja Vidic since the game against City and has impressed in the absence of Rio Ferdinand, but Ferguson has admitted that his form has come as no surprise.

He told Inside United: “We are very pleased with his performances. It’s an outstanding contribution he has made. But, do you know, I expected him to do well. I had no doubts about him.

“He’s done really well for us and he is improving all the time. He is developing all aspects of his game because he wants to learn and improve. He likes defending, he enjoys it. So he’s a real bonus.

“We started him against City with Rio being out and it’s not easy coming in for your first derby at 21 years of age, having only been with us nine months. But I thought he would do well.”

Smalling is not the only young centre-half that Ferguson has high hopes for with Jonny Evans also deputising in the past, and the veteran manager thinks the duo could be a future pairing at the back.

When asked if the pair were the long-term successors in the centre-back positions, he replied: “That’s the way I look upon it.

“They’re young, but Evans for example has already played a lot of games for us. He played almost three quarters of the matches last season.

“He is well grounded in terms of what’s needed here. His time will come.”