Chris Smalling admits Manchester United’s performance against Burnley was ‘unacceptable’ and claims the team are letting themselves down.
United have struggled under the guidance of Louis van Gaal this season but laboured to a 3-1 win over Sean Dyche’s side on Wednesday evening.
Smalling was on hand to score an unlikely brace for United, though he has conceded that his team’s performance was below par.
“It wasn’t a 3-1 scoreline game,” he told reporters. “Especially in that first half, we all let ourselves down. We could have played much better.
“That the first half was probably the worst we’ve had all season, we were lucky to go into the break with a lead.
“We knew that it wasn’t good enough in the first half. We were lucky to get away with it, and we had to stand up and fight in the second-half.’”
The central defender then added that Van Gaal was vocal in his opinion of the first half display in the dressing room.
“I think the manager was shocked at half-time.
“The manager said in the dressing room that the first half was unacceptable and all the players know that.”