Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal calls Chris Smalling 'Mike' again after CSKA Moscow win

The Dutch coach previously called him 'Mike' during a press conference in pre-season

Chris Smalling may be one of the few at Manchester United to have caught the eye so far this season, but that has not made it any easier for Louis van Gaal to remember his name.

Having already mistakenly looked his centre-half in the eye and called him ‘Mike’ during a pre-season press conference, the Old Trafford boss got his name wrong for a second time after Tuesday night’s victory over CSKA Moscow.

Referring to Seydou Doumbia’s gilt-edged chance towards the end of the game, Van Gaal said: "That was the only attack of CSKA Moscow that, and then David De Gea has saved us, and after that 'Michael' Smalling has saved us.”

On this occasion, unlike when the same mistake was made during pre-season, none of the journalists present corrected the 64-year-old coach and he did not acknowledge his mistake.

Ever since that first slip of the tongue, the club’s supporters have affectionately taken up the manager’s nickname for his in-form defender.

“The players don't call me Mike, but a lot of the fans do,” Smalling said after last month’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City. “Even if you go to Russia or wherever, it's ‘Mike! Mike! Mike!’

“It's going to stick with me forever, that one,” he conceded.