Smalling: Giggs' half-time team talk works during Manchester derby

April 13, 2015
Posted by Steven Tan | Source from Ryan Grant, ManUtd.com
Chris Smalling felt Manchester United fully deserved the points after the Reds defeated Manchester City 4-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday.
 
The defender headed home United's final goal of the afternoon before Sergio Aguero's late consolation, helping Louis van Gaal's side to a sixth consecutive league victory.
 
Smalling acknowledged the Reds took control after a slow start and were worthy winners in a first triumph over City since 2012.
 
"We weren’t ourselves in the first 15 minutes, but we dominated from there on," he told MUTV. "We came in at half-time and Giggsy said it was a good show of character to come back from a goal down, but in the second half we needed to get the ball down and take a few more risks.
 
"We were a bit cautious and didn’t try to play out [from the back] too much, but in the second half we really kicked on and made a print on the game. 
 
"It’s massive [to win six in a row]. I think a lot of people probably saw our fixtures as the hardest of the lot, but if you play teams like Tottenham and Liverpool and win, they’re real six-pointers. It makes a massive difference, and I think confidence comes from beating these top teams."
 
Smalling ghosted into the area unmarked to head Ashley Young's free-kick past Joe Hart on 73 minutes and claim his fourth goal of the season.
 
The England international was delighted to contribute to the win and praised the fans inside Old Trafford for their part in a memorable afternoon.
 
"I wanted to try to get a run on early; I was ready to pop up and it finished the game," he added. "I think today put us up another step and I think we’re on a roll; we can look up the table and not behind us.
 
"You could sense even from the warm-up that the atmosphere was going to be special. We lost against City earlier in the season so today was massive and I think the fans really stuck with us."
  • Related keywords: Manchester United, Chris Smalling, Ryan Giggs