Roma have conceded just six goals in the last 11 games across all competitions and Chris Smalling has played a key role, being the player with the most duels won in Serie A.
The Giallorossi have qualified for the Conference League semi-finals and are in the race for a top-four finish, although Juventus are five points ahead of them with just five games remaining.
José Mourinho’s side has lost just one game in Serie A since the start of the year, three across all competitions. As La Gazzetta dello Sport and Calciomercato.com point out, Smalling has played a vital role in Roma’s defensive development in the second part of the campaign.
The former Manchester United centre-back is the player with the most duels won in Serie A (77.39%) and has only committed eight fouls this season. No other player has won more tackles than him in Italy’s top-flight (89) and the England international was successful in 46 aerial duels out of 57.
Mourinho has reportedly agreed to extend the defender’s contract which expires in 2023, but the club must now reach an agreement with the player’s entourage over a new two-year deal with a slight pay cut.