Experienced defender Chris Smalling has responded to criticism from former Roma manager Jose Mourinho, defending his commitment to the club and addressing accusations regarding his injury management. Mourinho had previously criticized Smalling’s ability to play through pain and questioned his pain threshold during a period of injury.In November last year, Mourinho criticized Smalling, alleging that the 34-year-old defender was not capable of playing through pain. Mourinho suggested that Smalling “holds something back” and implied that there are individuals who are not high-performance athletes but have a greater pain threshold than Smalling. This criticism came during a period when the English centre-back had been sidelined for nearly five months due to a knee issue.Jose Mourinho made a fortune just from sack paymentsMourinho’s scathing remarks triggered a reaction from Smalling, who later defended himself on Instagram, emphasizing his commitment to AS Roma and addressing rumours about contemplating leaving the club. The public exchange highlighted the tension between the manager and player during Mourinho’s tenure at Roma.##NAJAVA_MECA_7805770##In an Instagram post, Smalling expressed his unwavering commitment to AS Roma since joining in 2019, stating that Roma is his home and addressing rumors about him contemplating leaving the club. He acknowledged the frustration of being sidelined due to injury but emphasized his dedication to returning to play a significant role in the team.”Speaking openly, the last few months have proved to be some of the most frustrating of my career. There are things in this game and in life that we can control and others we simply can’t. This injury has been one thing that we couldn’t. No footballer wants to spend their days in a treatment room, and this period of time away from my teammates has challenged me, with setback after setback. I have, and will always, put the needs of my teammates first, but the absolute priority for the medical team is to guarantee that I can play a significant role in the latter part of the season and for seasons to come.”The former Manchester United and Fulham player clarified that he has never asked to leave Roma and shared the challenges he faced during his injury recovery. He mentioned that the medical team’s priority is to ensure his long-term fitness and contribution to the team in the latter part of the season and beyond. Smalling also refuted claims that he dictated his treatment plan, stating that he follows the guidance of specialists.The defender thanked Jose Mourinho and his team for their support over the past three seasons and welcomed new Roma manager Daniele De Rossi. Smalling expressed gratitude for the patience and loyalty of the fans and reassured them of his commitment to returning to his best form.
