Manchester United defender Chris Smalling takes swipe at top-six rivals as stars arrive for training: 'I hear a lot of stories from other clubs and there's a lot more people that don't get on'

Chris Smalling has praised the atmosphere in the Manchester United dressing room and suggested all is not so well in their rivals' camps.

Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea have all had to deal with off-field issues involving star names this summer.  

Diego Costa's stand-off over his future continues to rumble on; Danny Rose's frank but off-message remarks about Spurs' pay structure ruffled feathers and at Anfield Philippe Coutinho is angling for an exit.

Chris Smalling has praised the atmosphere in the Manchester United dressing room

Chris Smalling has praised the atmosphere in the Manchester United dressing room

The defender says the humour provided by the likes of Paul Pogba give the players a boost

The defender says the humour provided by the likes of Paul Pogba give the players a boost

Juan Mata showed the club's unity by arriving for Friday training with three team-mates

Juan Mata showed the club's unity by arriving for Friday training with three team-mates

The Spaniard stopped for fans along with David de Gea, Ander Herrera and Matteo Darmian

The Spaniard stopped for fans along with David de Gea, Ander Herrera and Matteo Darmian

United supporters surrounded Mata's Mercedes as he pulled up at Carrington for training 

United supporters surrounded Mata's Mercedes as he pulled up at Carrington for training 

It has been a summer of relative tranquillity at Old Trafford. The additions of Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku appear to have boosted the dressing room. In the case of Lukaku, he joins good friend Paul Pogba at United.


Squad balance is difficult to achieve but Smalling says the Red Devils have managed it. Juan Mata was pictured driving into training with colleagues David de Gea, Ander Herrera and Matteo Darmian all in the car on Friday morning.

Smalling told Metro: 'It's hard to be able to have 25 players that all get along but I've found in the dressing room everybody is getting on, everyone's joking, we've got music playing and everyone is laughing and joking about.

The arrival of Paul Pogba's close friend Romelu Lukaku has no doubt improved team spirit

The arrival of Paul Pogba's close friend Romelu Lukaku has no doubt improved team spirit

Victor Lindelof is another new signing in a dressing room that Smalling says is harmonious

Victor Lindelof is another new signing in a dressing room that Smalling says is harmonious

Smalling hinted at problems at other clubs, Nemanja Matic's ex-side Chelsea likely one of them

Smalling hinted at problems at other clubs, Nemanja Matic's ex-side Chelsea likely one of them

Marouane Fellaini is driven into United's Carrington base by his twin brother Mansour

Marouane Fellaini is driven into United's Carrington base by his twin brother Mansour

'I hear a lot of stories from other clubs and there's a lot more people that don't get on than us so I think we're very blessed to have the changing room that we have.

'Paul Pogba is a joker, Jesse [Lingard] is a joker as well. Youngy [Ashley Young] is up there as well. I think everyone has their mix and no matter what nationality, as we've got so many in that changing room, everybody gets on and has a laugh.

'I think we're very lucky in that we get to work in an environment that we all really enjoy.'