Smalling: What United Means To Me

Chris Smalling, who has signed a new contract at the club, explains what being at Manchester United means to him...

What’s the most special thing about being a United player?
I’d say playing in front of a full stadium, nearly 80,000, every week. There aren’t any other teams who have that. Every game is a sell-out too. We’re very lucky that people travel from all over the world to come and see us whenever we play.

What’s surprised you most about the club since you arrived?
When we go abroad, especially to Asia and even to America, you realise it’s such a global club. We all know United is big but it’s more about realising just how big it is and how it really affects a lot of people all over the world. Football is big in this country but it doesn’t sink in about how big it is elsewhere until you go to other countries.

What makes United so special?
The fact that we always strive to be better than anyone else, no matter what. There might be something we want to do with the training ground for example - we have a lovely training ground but the club are always looking at how we can improve things further. The manager and the chief executive are always trying to do that with the players in the squad but things are looked at here in minute detail, no matter what it is. It’s about that attention to detail to always strive to be better than other teams and making sure we’re leading the way.

Talk us through your favourite memory as a United player so far.
Winning my first league title of course, but I’d also say my first Manchester derby at Old Trafford when Wazza scored that overhead kick. It’s a moment that will stick with me. I remember looking around at the fans and seeing the sheer joy that is packed into a moment like that in a home derby game. You only get that game once a season and seeing the fans’ faces at the end is something that will stay with me.

Sum up United in three words.
Passionate, global, iconic.