Chris Smalling says he missed the feeling of playing games and warns Roma not to drop points to qualify for the Champions League.
“I felt very good, I missed that feeling of playing the games. When you are in the treatment table or you train all week, you want to play. It was nice to be able to help the team and we need to kick off. We didn’t make the game easy for ourselves. We defended well, we could have finished the game early, but three points it’s the most important,” Smalling told DAZN.
Chris Smalling says he missed the feeling of playing games and warns Roma not to drop points to qualify for the Champions League.
“I felt very good, I missed that feeling of playing the games. When you are in the treatment table or you train all week, you want to play. It was nice to be able to help the team and we need to kick off. We didn’t make the game easy for ourselves. We defended well, we could have finished the game early, but three points it’s the most important,” Smalling told DAZN.
“We know each game we go into now, we can’t afford to drop points, we’ve dropped too many points already this season and I think of all the leagues in the world, this is probably the closest. We’re so close to second or third, but you could be sixth or seventh. The pressure is on and this is where the team needs to step up.
“Today, we stepped up and made sure, no matter what, the victory was the target.”
There was controversy when Smalling touched the ball with his hand at the edge of the Roma box, but no penalty or free-kick was given.
“I remember, but I wasn’t looking [at the ball] I think it was a fair decision,” Smalling commented.
The former Manchester United defender was interviewed in English, will he do the next one in Italian?
“Yes, it’s coming very soon. I need to push myself, but yes, very soon.”