---
title: "Owen: “I could play centre-back for United”"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/11/30/owen-i-play-centre-back-united/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd News"
published: "2015-11-30T13:47:40Z"
modified: "2015-11-30T13:47:40Z"
---

# Owen: “I could play centre-back for United”

Michael Owen has bizarrely criticised Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, claiming that he doesn’t deserve the praise he is getting at the moment.

The former Liverpool and United striker made the bold claim that he could play centre-back for the Reds, due to Louis van Gaal’s defensive tactics.

The Reds have kept seven clean sheets during the past ten games in all competitions and conceded the least goals in the Premier League so far this season.

Smalling has been a key part of van Gaal’s side and has been mentioned as a potential PFA Player of the Year candidate at the end of the season, but Owen seems to think that he is benefitting from playing in this United side.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/11/4727462661.jpg)

Speaking on *BT Sport*, Owen said:

> *To be so good going forward you have to commit players.*
>
> *With Manchester United this year and Chelsea last year, everyone was raving about John Terry’s performances last year and now everyone raves about Chris Smalling.*
>
> *I could play centre-half when I’ve got Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, two full-backs that don’t move and wide players that really do a good shift.*
>
> *To be a good attacking team you almost all have to have some influence on going forward. Maybe not the two centre-halves, but it’s a team game. It’s not like ‘you six stay here and defend, and you four go and attack.*

![Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/11/4907113861.jpg)

> *It’s a team game. You’re either a good attacking team or good defensively.*

Unfortunately for Michael, I don’t think that he could play centre-back very well. The Maidstone Maldini’s been in fine form, and it can be argued that he is the best centre-back in the Premier League at the moment.