Smalling Targets Big Advantage In Denmark

Chris Smalling wants Manchester United to get "more than half the job done" when his team visit FC Midtjylland this Thursday night in the first of two meetings with the Danish champions.

The Reds centre-back is mindful that the second leg of the Europa League tie, at Old Trafford on Thursday 25 February, will fall between an Emirates FA Cup tie away to Shrewsbury Town and a crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal. He therefore feels it's important for United to bring home a decent lead from Denmark tomorrow evening to take some of the pressure off next week.

Smalling told MUTV: "That will definitely be the plan, especially with us playing next Monday [at Shrewsbury] as well. It's a massive week and ideally if we can do more than half the job in our first game then it will be a lot more comfortable come next Thursday in the second leg."

The defender is hopeful that video homework will help the Reds prepare for a first-ever match against Midtjylland, whose current winter break from domestic fixtures could mean they are fresh and fully focused on defeating United or, alternatively, slightly off the pace due to a lack of action since December.

"Hopefully their rusty side is the one we can see come the end of the game and we can test their fitness levels in terms of their break," suggested Smalling.

"We know they'll obviously be up for it as this is all they'll have had their vision on for the last six or seven weeks, us being their next game, so we know we'll have to play well to be on top.

"Obviously when you play teams from different countries you don't see their players week in, week out or fully know the standard of their league.

"It's a case that any team can rise to the occasion on the day. We've seen that in the past in the Europa League - Athletic Bilbao were very good on the day and much better than us.

"But after watching the video analysis this week, we'll start to really know the Midtjylland players and then come game day we'll know their strengths and weaknesses inside out like any other team."