Rio Ferdinand lauds Chris Smalling and his beast mode performances

Follow us on Google Discover

The ex Manchester United defender predicted a big season for his former Old Trafford teammate, following the 3-1 win over Club Brugge.

Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has touched on the impressive form of current Red Devils defender Chris Smalling on BT Sport>, after the former Fulham man once again caught the eye in the Champions League win over Club Brugge.

The England international has started the first three games of the season for Louis van Gaal’s side, putting in a man of the match display against Tottenham on the opening day of the season and then adding another clean sheet during the win over Aston Villa last Friday.

That has been enough for Ferdinand, who spent 12 years at Old Trafford as a defensive star, on the way to winning six Premier League titles, to applaud Smalling and state that the 25-year-old looks eager to ensure his name is the first down in the centre of defence.

“This is a massive season for him,” the former West Ham favourite, who retired this summer after a final season with QPR, told BT Sport.

“I love watching when Smalling’s in that mood – beast mode. He just wants to defend, take players out the way, pushing players out of the way.

“It seems like he’s got it between his teeth, ‘I want to be the number one centre half at this club’.

“The form he’s started this season in it seems like he’s gone about it in the right way.”

It is perhaps Smalling’s impressive form that has gone a long way to convince Van Gaal that a big name centre back signing isn’t as vital as he may have thought earlier this summer. Against the Belgians on Tuesday night he was powerful and strong in his defensive style, and it was no surprise that his former teammate was so impressed.

And with Nicolas Otamendi now looking like he will sign for Manchester City, according to Sky Sports, having been linked with United for much of the summer, everyone with ties to the Red Devils will be hoping Smalling can continue to go from strength to strength this season.