Chris Smalling maintains that while he does “miss” Manchester United, “I am enjoying my new chapter and feeling very settled” at Roma.
Smalling has slotted seamlessly into Roma’s defence after his surprise loan move from United at the end of the summer transfer window, and he spoke to talkSPORT about his new life in the Italian capital.
“I do [miss United] because I was there for so many years and I was used to be being part of the furniture there,” admitted the 29-year-old.
Chris Smalling maintains that while he does “miss” Manchester United, “I am enjoying my new chapter and feeling very settled” at Roma.
Smalling has slotted seamlessly into Roma’s defence after his surprise loan move from United at the end of the summer transfer window, and he spoke to talkSPORT about his new life in the Italian capital.
“I do [miss United] because I was there for so many years and I was used to be being part of the furniture there,” admitted the 29-year-old.
However, he added: “But I am enjoying my new chapter, and hopefully I can keep affecting performances on the pitch and we can have a successful season. But right now I’m really enjoying being in Italy.
“I’m starting to pick up things the manager is saying in Italian, and even with the players I’m lucky as quite a few of them speak English.
“I’m definitely picking up a lot of football phrases and a lot of basic phrases that are helping me interact with the team on and off the pitch.
“I am feeling very settled; my family is over here and the dogs are over here, so everyone is settled. When my family are happy and I am happy it shows on the pitch.
“The manager’s targets are not just about getting back in the Champions League – it is about winning something.
“That is where my full focus is, and come the end of the season when we’ve won something and achieved something we can see where it goes.
“Right now it is all about focus on the pitch.”