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Chris Smalling says Man Utd are keen to make up for Chelsea loss

during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2016 in London, England.
Image: Chris Smalling labelled Manchester United's 4-0 loss at Chelsea as their "worst performance of the season"

Chris Smalling is confident there will be no repeat of Manchester United's heavy Premier League loss to Chelsea when the sides meet in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

United suffered their biggest defeat under Jose Mourinho in west London in October when Chelsea ran out 4-0 winners over their former manager.

Almost five months on, United have embarked on a 17-match unbeaten run in the league and Mourinho has claimed the first trophy of his Old Trafford reign, having won the EFL Cup in February.

Chelsea come into the FA Cup quarter-final clash as the favourites however, with Antonio Conte's side 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League and United having played in Russia on Thursday in the Europa League.

Pedro takes the ball beyond David de Gea to open the scoring at Stamford Bridge
Image: Pedro scored insider the opening minutes during the sides' Premier League encounter

"Chelsea have been by far the most consistent team in the league and they deserve to be in the position where they are now," Smalling, who was part of the United team that won the FA Cup last season, told MUTV.

"But I think we are on a good run and we will give a much better account of ourselves than we did last time."

Smalling endured a difficult time last time out at Stamford Bridge and was arguably culpable for three of the goals that United conceded.

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In the aftermath of the defeat, the England international insisted he was struggling with an injury that forced him off at half-time of the preceding game against Fenerbahce in Europe.

When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?
When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?

Click here to find out when the FA Cup semi-final draw takes place

"In hindsight, it was probably not the game I should have played in," Smalling said. "But as a player you try to push yourself and force yourself to play in all sorts of games.

"That was a big one and I am a player who doesn't want to miss those games.

"In the lead-up to that week, we had drawn with Liverpool and won in Europe too, so we were starting to build up momentum.

"Then that game at Chelsea completely knocked us - it was definitely one of our worst performances of the season. But from then on we have kicked on and done a lot better.

Antonio Conte shakes hands with Jose Mourinho after the final whistle
Image: Jose Mourinho clashed with Antonio Conte after the final whistle of their league match

"I think we all learned a lot of things from that game and, not only do we have progress in this competition to play for, we also have our pride as well."

United defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 at Wembley last May to win the FA Cup for a record-equalling 12th time, drawing them level with Arsenal in the competition.

But United have never successfully defended the trophy in their history, a feat that Smalling has set his sights on.

"The FA Cup is a tough trophy to defend and looking at previous records, not many people have been able to do it and I know United haven't," Smalling said.

"So to be a part of history by retaining the cup would be brilliant.

"We're in the quarter-finals already and we can see the finishing line is not too far away if we play as well as we can."

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