Smalling said that van Gaal was “very tactically aware” and despite the club having many up and downs during the season Smalling thinks on a whole, “the team were very solid”.
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The Manchester United defender left Tuesday’s training session with an ice pack around his left knee but the Football Association’s medical team were not anxious and he will continue to work with the group as normal ahead of Saturday’s Group B opener in Marseilles.
While Van Gaal’s United were not the most thrilling iteration of the side, Smalling said his tactical nous made them hard to break down as they conceded just 35 goals this season – the equal best record in the Premier League.
A decade on from the likes of Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Jamie Carragher jostling for a starting berth, Roy Hodgson has three out-and-out centre-backs to choose from in France.
Smalling was entrusted with a greater role under Van Gaal – who was sacked last month as United opted for Jose Mourinho as the man to take the club forward – and the England worldwide said the Dutchman played a crucial role in his development.
“I always knew that if I can stay injury-free and just start the season very well, and get a good run, that I always could produce consistent performances”, he told reporters.
The 26-year-old former Fulham defender also complemented Van Gaal for some of his personal development. “I think he ” s close, so fingers crossed”.
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But the England centre-back would not be drawn on why he was looking after it, who decided he should, or which player is likely to be given the responsibility next. I’ve seen him doing parts (of training). “It is tiny little things like that, not things that will distract away from how we normally play, and individually play”.
