Chris Smalling hails Louis van Gaal's coaching for turning him into a top-class defender

Chris Smalling claims he has thrived on Louis van Gaal's training methods

CHRIS SMALLING puts his development into a top-class centre-half down to Louis van Gaal’s intensive coaching methods.

 

Smalling has embellished Van Gaal’s reputation for improving players by emerging from the shadow of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to become Manchester United’s defensive kingpin this season, five years after joining the club.

And the commanding form that has made him an England regular will only intensify Arsene Wenger’s frustration at missing out when he moved to Old Trafford from Fulham in a £10m deal in 2010.

 

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted recently that his determination to pinch Smalling from under Wenger’s nose was fuelled by his anger that the Arsenal boss had done the same to him by signing Aaron Ramsey.

Smalling, 25, faces the Gunners at the Emirates tomorrow as United’s most improved player since Van Gaal took charge 15 months ago.

 

While there were rumours of discontent in the camp about the Dutchman's training methods earlier in the season, Smalling says he has thrived on them – and even netted the midweek Champions League winner against Wolfsburg.

"He has helped me a lot,” he said. “He is very honest about what your good points are and what you can improve on. That is very refreshing to hear.

“When he first joined the club he said that after six to eight months of working, when we know what he wants, then we will improve as a team. 

 

Smalling and Van Gaal celebrate United's Champions League win over Wolfsburg

"We have obviously improved on the start of last season and, as a player, I definitely feel that I have improved as well. He improves a lot of players.

“We work hard and tirelessly on the training ground with our tactics. We do 11 versus 11s a lot so we know our positions and our roles down to a tee. The repetition has really improved my game and a lot of the other players as well.

“There has obviously been a lot of ins and outs but, as a group, we've stayed very close-knit. Whoever comes in knows their job. We have the training routine and the philosophy of the manager so every player knows what he wants and what he expects of you on the pitch."

 

It is a remarkable change in fortunes for a player who was criticised by Van Gaal after being dismissed in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium for two “stupid” cautions less than a year ago.

He responded with a stand-out performance in the very next game – United’s back-against-the-wall win at Arsenal – and has not looked back since with Van Gaal underlining his faith by handing him a new long-term contract at the end of last season and making him captain when Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick were both absent recently.

“It’s [being captain] pretty surreal but it’s nice that the manager has shown faith in me and he has so much trust in me,” he added. “It’s nice to be rewarded and I hope to reward him back with good performances on the pitch.

 

“I am happy that I have been able to play in every game so far and that is what my aim was at the beginning, especially after the disappointment of last season and the injuries that I had to start with.

“It has been nice to get a consistent run and I am enjoying my football at the minute. I would go with a [mark of] seven out of 10 so far. There is definitely more to come. I am hoping that I can keep kicking on and improving each day, keep clocking up the games and contributing to the team.”

Smalling admits October will provide a real test of United's title credentials with the Gunners clash followed by a visit to Everton and then the Manchester derby – after a long trek to Moscow in the Champions League. 

“This next month is going to be crucial to our season,” he said Smalling. “We’ve got some tough away games. But if we maintain the consistent run we’ve had from the start all the way through, then I don’t think anything is out of reach.”