Chris Smalling defends Jose Mourinho's defensive tactics and insists 'not many teams can stop Manchester United from scoring'

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Chris Smalling has hit back at criticism of Manchester United's tactics under Jose Mourinho by insisting most teams will struggle to stop his side from scoring.

Mourinho employed a pragmatic approach in United's last Premier League game as they stifled Liverpool's attacking threat to emerge from Anfield with a goalless draw. 

The manager responded to criticism for his seemingly negative approach by saying 'being good defensively is not a crime' after Wednesday's win over Benfica.

Chris Smalling embraces David De Gea after another clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Benfica

And Smalling, who has kept a clean sheet in each of his last three appearances for United, echoed Mourinho's sentiments and defended United's display at Anfield.

'You can see that we have attacking players, albeit they still have to defend when Liverpool have those attacks,' Smalling told Sky Sports.  

'But we kept it tight and we know that when we get those chances, more often than not, when we keep a clean sheet or are defensively sound, then nine times out of 10 we will win that game because not many teams can stop us from scoring.

'More often than not, we are the team that is on the front foot, because we are the one with the ball and we have to keep passing it side to side and finish them.

Smalling was at the heart of a pragmatic display in United's 0-0 draw away at Liverpool

'And more often than not, when we get a goal and go 1-0 up and then the other team has to come out', he added. 

'That is often when we score the second, the third and the fourth. And we have killed teams in the last 20 minutes'. 

Mourinho's men travel to the John Smith's Stadium to face newly-promoted Huddersfield on Saturday looking to keep pace with league leaders Man City. 

United have six wins and two draws from their opening eight Premier League games of the season and sit two points behind their Manchester rivals.