Smalling nöjd med derbyvinsten
I Rio Ferdinands frånvaro fick Smalling chansen bredvid Vidic i mittförsvaret, och den tog han minsann vara på.
Den lovande mittbacken var strålande mot City och visade upp ett väldigt moget spel, samtidigt som han tillsammans med Nemanja Vidic höll Tevéz och co under kontroll. Efter matchen var Smalling naturligtvis nöjd, både med sin egen insats och derbyvinsten.
“I was a little bit nervous but we’ve been building up to this game all week and I knew I was going to be playing quite early on so I was able to prepare fully. As soon as I got my first touch it felt like just another game. The atmosphere was electric. To be able to play in a game with that sort of magnitude was great."
Smalling påpekade också tyngden av att slå tillbaka efter förlusten senast mot Wolves, något som var väldigt viktigt för självförtroendet.
"We had all seen the table and realised how crucial the game was.
All week we had been working towards this so we could stretch the lead and put some pressure on the others at the top of the league. In terms of the three points, it really separates us from them so it was a massive game and for me to play my part was a real buzz."
Trots att City i andra halvlek fick momentum efter kvitteringen, anser mittbacken att United alltid hade kontroll på matchbilden och kunde rättvist vinna matchen efter ett fantastiskt mål av Wayne Rooney.
"Their goal was pretty jammy and set us back a little bit but we just kept on going and Nani and Giggs were brilliant. I think we got what we deserved and it would have been disappointing to only get a draw out of that game.
You can see on the replay how the ball comes off the middle of his foot and goes right into the top corner. There are not many better ways to win a match. It was great for Wayne to pop up after working so hard during the game and seal such a great occasion."
Källa: manutd.com
