AS Roma player hits out at Mourinho following sack

In a pointed response to former manager Jose Mourinho‘s recent claims, AS Roma defender Chris Smalling has refuted suggestions that he is reluctant to play through the pain barrier.

This comes in the aftermath of Mourinho’s recent dismissal from his role at the Giallorossi, with Daniele De Rossi stepping in as his replacement.

Mourinho, who parted ways with Roma earlier in the week, had insinuated that Smalling “holds something back” and questioned his pain threshold, stating that certain individuals outside the realm of high-performance athletes endure more pain.

However, following Mourinho’s departure, Smalling took to social media to set the record straight and clarify his commitment to Roma, the club that played a pivotal role in rejuvenating his career after a challenging stint at Manchester United.

In an Instagram story, Smalling addressed the situation, stating, “Let me start by clarifying that I have never asked to, nor even contemplated, leaving this great club.”

He expressed his dedication to the team, emphasizing the difficulties he has faced during a period away from his teammates due to setbacks.

The defender underscored his commitment to prioritizing the needs of his teammates while assuring that the medical team’s primary focus is to ensure he can play a significant role in the latter part of the season and beyond.

Smalling countered any insinuations that he dictated his treatment plan, stating,

“Guided only by specialists, I have been open to all solutions, short and long, and any insinuation that I have dictated a treatment plan are false.”