“It’s our job to analyse opponents and, if he plays left or as a centre-back, we can do some movements in attack with crosses.
Advertisement
You never know what the other guys are capable of, but thankfully the inspiration from my grandmother’s food back home in Spain has helped me along”, said the 25-year-old.
Van Gaal has spent £90million on young players such as Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Luke Shaw but admitted: “It would be hard to see this team reach its potential because that would mean I would have to stay“.
Former Netherlands global Wim Kieft believes Van Gaal is using more of his Dutch staff, something which he noticed during United’s loss to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League. The England full-back’s broken leg has brought his run of excellent form this season to a shuddering halt and simultaneously leaves Louis van Gaal scratching his head over the best way to replace the 20-year-old.
United make the trip to Southampton and have won at the south coast club in seven of their last eight visits. It was a good game, we tried to take the initiative from the beginning and, although we didn’t create good chances in the first 45 minutes, we played almost all the time in Liverpool’s half of the pitch.
Last season a video emerged of the 29-year-old sparring with former United team-mate Phil Bardsley that showed Rooney being knocked to the ground by the defender. The Red Devils come into this game with a midweek setback, and I believe they’ll win this game for their fallen player in Shaw.
“Of course, it is easier to buy the big stars but the big stars can fail too, and we have seen that past year “.
The manager and his Saints team host United in the Premier League having scored in only two of their five league fixtures played so far this season.
Smalling, who suffered thigh and groin injuries last season, added: “It’s nice to know the manager has got that trust in me and I hope to deliver”.
SMM: Overall, how happy were you with United’s transfer dealings in the summer?
SMM: If you could sell any of United’s regular starting XI, who would it be and why?
SMM: How do you think Southampton will fare this season?
“Southampton have a very good team, not worse than past year , but they started very badly”.
United are also keen to send striker James Wilson out on loan, but the 19-year-old has received assurances from Louis van Gaal that it is all part of his footballing development and not the end of his career at Old Trafford.
Advertisement
AT: Wayne Rooney. Not because United don’t need him – in the absence of any other senior striker they nearly certainly do – but because I’d be genuinely fascinated to see who would bid, and how much.
