Smalling: Being called 'Mike' gets a bit annoying

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has revealed he is getting fed up of people constantly referring to him as ‘Mike’.

Louis van Gaal first referred to the England international as ‘Mike Smalling’ during the club’s pre-season tour of America.

But the Dutchman didn’t learn from his mistake and got his player’s name wrong for a second time after United’s recent win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.


“I think once you can handle, but twice is a little bit of a slip-up,” Smalling told BT Sport.

“Even when we go to games now and when we get off the coaches it’s all Mike, Mike, Mike.

“It gets a bit annoying, but it’s just one of those that is going to stick with me and I’ll just have to roll with it.”

The 25-year-old has been an ever-present in the United side this season, playing every minute of every Premier League fixture.

He’s also played in all four Champions League group games, scoring his only goal of the season in the win over Wolfsburg at Old Trafford.