Smalling: We Will Learn From Defeat

Chris Smalling believes Manchester United must turn possession into goals after the Reds fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

The England international watched from the back as Memphis Depay scored against his former side to give United a 41st minute lead at the Philips Stadion, but Louis van Gaal’s men were unable to hold on to the advantage as goals from Hector Moreno and Luciano Narsingh secured victory for the hosts.

Smalling later admitted he was disappointed that United could not find more goals in the Netherlands: “I think that we missed a cutting edge in the final third and in their box, and we needed to really try and make more of our possession,” he told BT Sport after the final whistle.

“In the first half PSV scored from their only chance, a corner, and then we gave the ball away just outside our box and they punished us. They were really their main chances, so it’s a disappointing night.”

Smalling captained United in the opening Group B match and states his team-mates will learn from their mistakes when facing Southampton this weekend. “We scored a really good goal and then we couldn’t kick on from that. We’ve got a lot to learn to make sure we bounce back on Sunday.

“You can’t take anything for granted, whether that’s a league game, a cup game or a Champions League game. If you don’t take your chances and the other team take theirs then, like tonight, we’ll be well and truly punished.”

Luke Shaw will unfortunately not face his former club after the defender suffered a double fracture of the leg in the 15th minute and was stretchered off. Smalling had this well wish for his fellow defender: “I didn’t see the injury first hand, but I know a few of the players did and we wish him a speedy recovery.”