Saturday 9 January 2016 07:20, UK
Louis van Gaal says he has taken to calling Chris Smalling 'Pele' after admitting he still has trouble remembering the defender's name.
Van Gaal made the humorous revelation in his press conference on Friday after making a clanger when he mixed up twin brothers Will and Michael Keane.
He famously called Smalling "Mike" at a press conference in San Jose on United's pre-season tour last July and blundered again by calling the centre-back "Michael" following the 1-0 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow four months later.
The Dutchman sold defender Michael Keane to Burnley last year, and recently recalled striker Will from a loan spell with Preston to give him an extra forward option.
And there was confusion when he mixed the brothers up twice, before admitting he had practically given up on trying to remember Will Keane's first name and then making his revelation about Smalling.
Asked about Will Keane's potential route back into the first team squad, Van Gaal said: "Now Michael Keane has to do it by himself."
After being told he had got the striker's name wrong again, Van Gaal joked: "Or Will Keane... Michael is an easy name for me!
"I said to 'Mike' Smalling that I call him Pele because he had a fantastic move so it is easier to call him Pele now."
