[5] Chris Smalling on wanting a run at centre-back even with new signings

[Red News]

“There’s always going to be a lot of activity and I do expect there’s going to be some with us. But we’ll just have to see how it goes and whoever is playing now will have to make sure they’re doing well so they’re not replaced. There’s always pressure when you go out with United. You’re expected to win and quite often this season we’ve not produced but that pressure I thrive on it. I’ve wanted this opportunity to make my mark in the middle and I hope now before the end of the season and next season I can be that main man in the middle. Only one departure (Vidic) is confirmed, so we just look at the here and now and in the summer we’ll see fit which players should come and go. But it’s massive that people come back after the summer and we’re all on the same wavelength. The manager has had a year to get to know us. Obviously, he came to the job not really knowing any of us, so he’ll have more of an idea of what he wants and what he feels about the squad that he’s inherited.”