Manchester United defender Chris Smalling says his side lacked concentration during their 1-0 loss against Chelsea at the weekend, as they failed to stop Cesar Azpilicueta picking out Alvaro Morata who headed home the winning goal.

Smalling has been a regular starter in Jose Mourinho’s line-ups of late, and was fairly solid against the Blues on Sunday but for that one moment in the 55th minute when Morata scored.

It was a disappointing result to say the least, and one that could have easily been avoided if not for that one lapse from the Red Devils, and Smalling admits his side knew all about Azpilicueta’s crossing threat before the game.

“I think it was two teams there who can defend and who have got very good attacking players.

“I think it was always going to be a close game and we just fell asleep on their one big chance, unfortunately.

“It was disappointing from us because we’d watched a lot of their videos and we knew about Azpilicueta coming up and putting in those crosses.

“So for us to know what their game plan was and to fall asleep is very disappointing.

“I think our first half where we controlled large parts of that game and we put them on that back foot, and we just needed to take one of those chances in that first half when you’ve got that momentum and you can keep squeezing it on them.

“But we just couldn’t take one of those chances.

“I thought those last 20 minutes we did put on some pressure and we were really on that front foot, and I thought a chance might come because I thought we deserved a goal.”

United face Newcastle next in the Premier League, but must wait until November 18th to do so. However, Smalling is confident the team can regroup and improve.

“It is unfortunate [to have to wait]. I think we’ll have to regroup and make sure that – our next game is at Old Trafford – we put on a performance to rectify this.

“It is about us getting back to Old Trafford for that game and putting on a performance that the fans can be proud of.”
[Quotes via Daily Star]