Chris Smalling blasts Gareth Southgate over England snub but Jose Mourinho is delighted
Three Lions chief left the defender out of his last squad - claiming he is not good enough at playing out from the back
CHRIS SMALLING has slammed Gareth Southagte's explanation for his England snub.
The Manchester United defender did not make the cut for the last Three Lions squad.
Boss Southgate claimed the centre-back was not good enough at playing out from the back to justify the call - and was hit by an angry response.
Smalling, 27, roared: “Was I surprised? Yes I was.
“But you don’t play for one of the biggest clubs in the world for as long as I have and probably won the most trophies, bar the Champions League, without being able to do everything a top defender needs to do, be it playing or defending.
“This year, as a team, we’ve got the best defensive record, we have done for the last few years and I’m very proud to be part of that.
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“While I’m playing under Jose Mourinho and he’s happy and I’m playing regularly, then I’m happy with that.
“I play for one of the biggest clubs and under one of the most successful managers and as long as that’s the case, I think, ultimately, it’s your club form that decides whether you play at a World Cup.
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“With United there is always a spotlight on it and there’s always going to be that pressure, not matter what the game is. Whether it’s the Premier League or the Champions League, I think I can showcase my abilities.
“I don’t really feel like I need to prove anything to Gareth. Like I said, I play for one of the most successful managers and he’s only going to pick the best players.
“While I’m playing regularly and he’s happy I think, if my season carries on like this and we have a successful season and our team continues to concede very few goals, then I think it gives him maybe no choice in the summer but to pick me.”
United boss Mourinho was delighted about Smalling missing out, however,
After losing Phil Jones to injury - where it was later revealed the defender had six painkilling injection to play - he revealed his delight.
Mourinho, 54, said: “I hope he doesn't get his spot back because when somebody goes injured, he comes back injured, Jones comes back injured.
"And real injuries, because there are other injuries where the players cannot play on the Wednesday and are perfect for the Saturday.
“Our injuries are real injuries. Jones doesn't play tomorrow and I can say in advance he won't play at the weekend, too.
“Smalling is playing all the time and well and tomorrow plays again. We don't have Jones, we don't have Eric Bailly again, so Smalling has to play every match and well, that we can say."