Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Smalling has got a grip of leading the Red Devils
De Bruyne won’t just defend in derby, Klopp happy with a ‘half-win’
FOR Chris Smalling, his first Manchester derby under Louis van Gaal would have been a chastening experience.
The Dutchman had been in charge for barely three months, United were stumbling forward and the derby at the Etihad was lost 1-0. Smalling had been sent off and, if he could bear to watch the TV in the dressingroom, he would have noted that Manchester United played rather better without him.
The post-match press conference last November would have given the defender little comfort either. Van Gaal sat in front of the microphones and called him “stupid” just as, on Wednesday night in Moscow, asked why Bastian Schweinsteiger had been substituted at
“He has also stepped up in a tactical way,” added the United manager. “When you give instructions, you need someone who understands tactics. Smalling is a structured person and he accepted it quicker.
“As for the captaincy, well you don’t have to worry about that for the moment because Wayne Rooney is the captain and then there is Michael Carrick but, when they are gone, Chris Smalling can do that and this is the direction I am pushing him in.”
Meanwhile, City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has played down the significance of tomorrow’s top- of- the- table clash against bitter- rivals United, saying that the outcome of the game will not decide who wins the Premier League.
City have been in impressive form this season, and currently sit at the top of the table with 21 points after nine games, having scored more goals than any other team in the league.
However, breathing down their necks are the Red Devils, who sit third in the table, just two points adrift of their neighbours.
“If you take a point or even lose, it’s not ideal but there are still almost 30 games to go so this result won’t be the deciding factor in who wins the title. There are still many points to be won and lost in the coming months,” De Bruyne said.
The 24-year-old Belgian has urged his team to focus on their attack despite goalkeeper Joe Hart saying City, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight games, need to tighten their defence.
“We shouldn’t play defensive because our main strength lies going forward, though we need to stay disciplined,” De Bruyne said.
“We know it will be difficult. Man United have been a top team for a long time and the rivalry between us and them obviously runs deep, but the season is very long – that said, we know what it means to our supporters and it would be nice if we could go there and get three points,” he added.
With David Silva and Sergio Agüero likely to miss the game through injury, all eyes will be on the Belgium international, who has been in sparkling form scoring five goals in nine appearances since his move from VfL Wolfsburg in August.
“It probably couldn’t have been much better – the only thing that would have improved things would be if we’d won more matches. We lost three and won five of my first eight games but we’re getting back on track,” he said.
● Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is unlikely to be able to unleash Daniel Sturridge for the first time since taking over this weekend at home to Southampton because the striker is struggling with a knee injury.
The German is still looking for his first victory since taking over this month from Brendan Rodgers and hopes that the injury-prone Sturridge would be available for the league game tomorrow are receding.
“It’s not much better at the moment. With Daniel’s injury we have to take it day by day, and see if he’s better,” Klopp said yesterday.
“If he can train tomorrow completely normal, then he’s an option. Because the break is not too long, then maybe not as a starter, but he’s an option. We have to wait for this.
“We have another treatment with him today, another screening because there’s a bit of fluid inside – not much but a little – but it’s day by day.”
The euphoria of Klopp’s arrival has been tempered by two draws. Last weekend’s 0-0 stalemate at Tottenham Hotspur in the league was followed by a 1-1 draw at home in the Europa League against Russian side Rubin Kazan.
It is not quite the start that Klopp, or Liverpool’s fans, would have hoped for.
“In my first season in Dortmund we had 15 draws, if you want it’s a half-win! You don’t lose. We have to get more stable,” the former Borussia Dortmund manager said.
“I didn’t expect we would run through the league from the moment I started. This league is too strong.
“But I have seen many things, I’m not sure what was there before but I saw many (good) things.
“My job is to give the team some ideas in the box.”
While Sturridge is a major doubt for the Reds, the return to fitness of Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino has given Klopp more attacking options for the visit of Southampton to Anfield.
They both came off the bench in the second half against Kazan and could play as a partnership.
“Of course, it is an option,” Klopp said.
“It is possible we can play like this, but I don’t know at this moment if we will play on Sunday with two strikers – but it is an option for the future.” – The Independent, Reuters