Updated 4/10 at 10.25
IF THERE WAS a turning point for Chris Smalling, it surely came in Louis van Gaal’s first Manchester derby.
It was November 2014 and United had picked up a last-gasp point against Chelsea in their previous league fixture. It was a confidence-boosting result and they headed to their local rivals in good spirits and with a solid plan.
Van Gaal does not do risk. He likes preparation, patience and purpose. Before the game, he instructed his players to keep calm and to ignore the frenzy a local clash brings with it. There was to be nothing rash.
But Smalling took little notice. He picked up a silly booking for attempting to block a Joe Hart kick-out and later in the first half, when United had built a steady foundation, he threw himself into a ridiculous challenge on James Milner with zero chance of getting the ball. As he slumped towards the touchline, he pulled his shirt over his head and buried his face in it. Continuing his seemingly never-ending walk, he gritted his teeth and mouthed some words to himself.
After 39 minutes of a crucial, high-profile but perfectly-poised fixture, United were reduced to ten men and never recovered.
But Smalling has.
And quite spectacularly too.
And he waited until the best-possible moment to show off his rebirth.
It came against City, at Old Trafford when Smalling even got on the score-sheet in a memorable 4-2 victory. That day, as was the case against Liverpool a few weeks before, he seemed to blossom and revelled in the new-found responsibility and seniority.
It was as if he finally stepped into the role he had been ear-marked for – a dominant, imposing athletic presence, a leader, a strong and determined personality at the heart of the United defence.
He’s been at the club for five years and outlasted many others that were tipped for big things. The da Silva twins are both gone, so too his one-time defensive partner Jonny Evans. But Smalling has survived and, what’s more, has developed and learned and improved to the point where he’s now indispensable.
In van Gaal’s first Premier League game, the 1-2 loss to Swansea, United infamously started the game with three centre-backs. Smalling was encouraged to step forward in possession and join in United’s approach play. Where his partners that day – Phil Jones and Tyler Blackett – were used to playing at full-back and midfield – Smalling seemed petrified by it all. He was skittish with the ball at his feet, unsure and uncomfortable with what was being asked of him.
But, that’s a distant memory.
He’s not a libero by any stretch but he seems to have much more confidence and belief in his skill-set now. He’s quick and strong and such attributes can often get him out of trouble when in possession and he seems to have embraced that, surely with the encouragement of van Gaal who wants his defenders to be more than stoppers. His physical capabilities can lead to offensive opportunities too, as evidenced by his chance against PSV and his also-improving goal record.
He seems more aware, completely buying into what van Gaal is trying to do with an emphasis on deep possession and his positioning has improved dramatically. The individual errors have stopped and there’s no longer the nervousness on the ball they we came to expect so often.
It’s little wonder that van Gaal has been so full of praise for Smalling who looks a completely different player under the Dutchman’s tutelage.
I am so happy because it (scoring against Wolfsburg) shall give him such a boost. His development as a player is amazing, so I am very happy with him.”
Never one to play down what he’s got right as a manager, van Gaal can now point to Smalling as one major success story from his time at United.
And still only 25, he can get better too.
