The 20-time English champions are in second place and a point behind Premier League leaders Leicester City after a 2-1 win against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday evening.
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The 26-year-old was never isolated or put under significant pressure and had it not been for a senseless error from Rojo, it is very likely Smalling would have carried United to another clean sheet.
In an interview he explained: “I was at a local club Penketh United and Mike Glennie, a Manchester United scout, came to watch me”.
Manchester United’s “lousy period” of injuries continued after Phil Jones and Ander Herrera were taken off in their Premier League win at Watford.
Alternatively, van Gaal could opt to rest one of the returning Martial or Rooney and keep Mata in, with Memphis continuing in the striker role.
“I’ve worked hard to get in this team and it is paying off. It was just being around and seeing how they were doing. We created a lot of chances and I should have scored from two clear-cut chances”, Lingard added.
Instead, they were spurred into action with Deeney putting into his own net from Bastian Schweinsteiger’s cross after Heurelho Gomes had saved Lingard’s effort.
“The situation is at the moment I can’t find the space in the first XI”, said Flores when asked why the Algerian had featured so sparingly.
“We didn’t play so good offensively”.
“In particular, Vardy (who has equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive games) and Mahrez are outstanding, playing at an exceptional level – we will have to be very careful with them”.
“We saw that here”. It liberated them, brought their soul to the surface, and it seemed like they were a Ferguson team during the final few minutes.
“But we didn’t play so well in ball possession”.
But against Watford he was asked to play more centrally – nearly as a split forward alongside Memphis Depay – and he showed he’s more than just raw talent. That is it and the penalty was given.
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“I have to say after the penalty, I thought we had given it away, but then you see the spirit of the game”, said Van Gaal.
