BIGGER THE BETTER FOR SMALLING
United star ready for crunch double
CHRIS SMALLING insists resurgent Manchester United are ready for this week’s crucial showdowns with Cristiano Ronaldo and champions Manchester City.
The Red Devils travel to Italy for Wednesday’s Champions League tie at Juventus, a game they dare not lose.
Four days later they head to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s league leaders.
United, who secured a late win at Bournemouth on Saturday, have conceded first in four of their last five games but defender Smalling has no fears about facing in-form Ronaldo or City.
He said: “We know we’re going into a very tough week but we can come out with some good results.
“We need to take the second-half performance that we had against Juventus at home and we need to do that from the off and we’ll give them a good game and get chances.”
Shipped
Juventus outclassed United at Old Trafford two weeks ago and have won all but one of their 14 games in all competitions this season, drawing the other.
United came from behind to beat the Cherries but have kept only one clean sheet and conceded 18 goals in 11 Premier League games.
Their defensive instability contrasts sharply with this stage last season when they had posted eight clean sheets and had shipped just five goals.
Smalling admits his seventhplaced side are under huge pressure to close the gap on City, while defeat at Juve could see them slip to third in their Champions League group.
He added: “It is tough. Obviously the league is more competitive than ever, especially since when I joined.
“I think more teams are causing upsets and more teams are challenging and with that there comes more pressure.
“It is tough as players but we obviously love playing the game and playing for the club.”
Asked whether United’s position in the table increases the scrutiny, Smalling added: “It does. The start of our season has put us in that position and we have to stand tall.
“The spotlight will be on us because we are supposed to be in the top four and we are not right now.
“We are doing everything we can to get there.”
United will be hoping neither Juventus nor City draw first blood yet again this week.
Smalling said: “We have been known for shutting up shop and not conceding many goals, so this season has been very unusual compared to what I have experienced before.
“We need to work on that because normally we don’t concede many and we win the game.
“It starts at the back and then as a team collectively and we will be working on it every day.”