Midfielder Chris Smalling posted a correction that he had to rest from the game on the advice of the medical team instead of suffering the pain and playing as Jose Mourinho wanted.
2 days ago, coach Jose Mourinho was fired by AS Roma because of I Giallorossi’s poor results from the beginning of the season. Several Roma players have posted farewell to the Portuguese strategist, including Chris Smalling. However, the 34-year-old midfielder’s post has some other notable points.
The number is that Jose Mourinho criticized Smalling last November for his poor ability to handle injuries. The former Man United midfielder is currently unable to return after a knee injury suffered 2 months ago. And in an interview in November, Mourinho criticized Smalling for not being able to endure pain and restrain something.
Next, Mourinho sarcastically joked that Chris Smalling probably couldn’t sleep because of a toothache. These things led to a part of Roma fans turning to criticize the English midfielder. Finally, Smalling had to speak up in his most recent Instagram Story.
“No player wants to spend all day in the treatment room. The time away from my teammates really tested me, with many difficulties over and over again. I always put the team first, but need to strictly comply with the requests from the medical team so that I can return in the second half of the campaign and the upcoming seasons.
I am only treated by professionals and am open to any short or long term solutions they suggest. Therefore, it is untrue that I came up with my own treatment plan. I have to trust the doctors who accompany me and never use painkillers,” Chris Smalling wrote.
AS Roma currently has two midfielders who are recovering from injuries: Marash Kumbulla and Chris Smalling. With Evan Ndicka having to return to Ivory Coast to attend AFCON 2023, coach Jose Mourinho only has two healthy central defenders: Gianluca Mancini and Diego Llorente. Therefore, he had to recruit Dean Huijsen from Juventus. However, without many opportunities to use this young midfielder, Mourinho was fired.