Smalling Confident Of PSV Victory

Manchester United will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League by defeating PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford on Wednesday, and Chris Smalling insists the Reds will accept nothing but victory against the Dutch champions.

It will of course be not be easy against a team that triumphed against Louis van Gaal’s men at the Phillips Stadion on matchday one, although Smalling is confident that home advantage and the prize of progression to the next round will inspire his team-mates to achieve their mission in Group B.

“It is a great position to be in,” Chris explains in Wednesday night's edition of United Review, the official matchday programme at Old Trafford. “Despite the first loss, we knew that if we won our home games then we’d have a good chance of going through. We couldn’t have asked for more than having a home game to seal our passage through to the knockout stages.

“At home, when we start the game very well then the opposition know that they are in for a very hard game. When we move the ball quickly, there are only so many times that they can stay in their shape and eventually we will find those gaps. At Old Trafford we have been very good this season.

“It will be great to get the job done tonight and we’ll all be disappointed if we come off the field without qualifying. Our home games are crucial and we are very good in front of our fans.”

The first match with PSV was overshadowed by Luke Shaw breaking his leg in two places, an injury that is likely to rule him out for most of this season. Despite that blow, Smalling is happy to admit his friend and fellow England international is making good progress in his recovery.

“Soon after it he was in good spirits,” Smalling explains in United Review. “Obviously it is very hard for him but he likes to be in amongst the lads because he has got some progress going. He is in the pool, he on the bike and he is in the gym. He’s on the right road and he’s a happy soul, which is good to see.”

In a show of sportsmanship and goodwill, the official PSV fan club has created a banner that wishes Shaw a speedy recovery from the injury he sustained in Eindhoven. It will be on display at Old Trafford tonight.