Chris is on United mission
CHRIS SMALLING has overcome his World Cup heartache and aims to prove his worth to Manchester United.
The defender was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad and admitted he was left reeling by the snub, having played for England at both the previous World Cup and Euro 2016.
But Smalling made the most of his summer off and is now fully focused on the new season – despite his place being under threat with Jose Mourinho targeting England rival Harry Maguire
“Initially it’s obviously disappointment, because you want to be a part of big tournaments,” said Smalling.
“I had to come to terms with that and I made the most of the biggest summer I’ve had in my career and I’m feeling fresh and ready to go now.
“I went to Thailand, Vietnam and I made the most of it, but now I’m feeling good and I can hopefully get a full pre-season, which
I’ve not had in many years.
“I just want to follow on from the number of games I played last season, keep kicking on and helping the team, just making us play better together and hopefully win some trophies.”
United boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign a new central defender, with Leicester’s Maguire and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld among his targets.
Marcos Rojo is also under threat, but Smalling said he is not bothered by the prospect of new arrivals in his position.
And he is up for the fight to keep his from DAVID McDONNELL in LA
United place. He added: “To be fair I think I’m used to that every year. “This club is always linked to centrebacks, whether it’s the club or agents or whoever, because the best come here. “But I’m happy and when I’m fit, I play, so I just want to carry on from last season and right now the shirt’s mine and I intend to keep it.
“The transfer window has been brought forward and it’s often hectic, so I’m sure there will be plenty of activity.” United have two US tour games left, against Liverpool in Michigan and Real Madrid in Miami, with a final warm-up game away to Bayern Munich before the new season gets under way at home to Leicester a fortnight tomorrow. Mourinho has said this week that his squad isn’t good enough yet to challenge for the title, but Smalling is confident United can improve on last season’s second place finish to champions Manchester City.
“There’s obviously still lots to work on, but ultimately it’s all about getting the minutes and I’m sure we’ll get better with each game,” said Smalling.
“We’ve made some good additions already and we’re going to keep getting more players back through this tour and when we get back as well. “People have done well in the summer as well [at the World Cup], so we should have some good belief going into the new season.”