Chris Smalling has maintained a close relationship with former manager Jose Mourinho despite public criticism from the Portuguese coach in 2016. According to Smalling, their positive working dynamic was rooted in trust and belief, which allowed him to perform well for both Manchester United and Roma under Mourinho's leadership. The two have remained in touch, with Mourinho even sending Smalling funny memes after becoming his boss at Roma in 2021. Currently, Smalling is focused on finding a new club, having returned to the north west of England with his family to assess his career options.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article's framing of Smalling's relationship with Mourinho as a positive, reciprocal one, and the emphasis on their 'camaraderie' and shared successes, suggests a sympathetic tone towards the right-wing politician. Additionally, the lack of critical examination or mention of potential controversies surrounding Mourinho's tenure contributes to this score.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.83 for article 558 · logged 2026-08-06
- Published
When Chris Smalling was publicly criticised by Jose Mourinho almost 10 years ago, you would not have predicted the pair would still be in touch now.
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pair → publish → touch
But that is exactly what has happened.
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what → happen → ?
When Mourinho was appointed Real Madrid boss earlier this summer, Smalling was quick to send his two-time former boss a good luck message.
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Smalling → appoint → message
To outsiders, his relationship with Mourinho is characterised by a public criticism from the Portuguese in November 2016 around an unwillingness to play through an injury.
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relationship → characterise → injury
That is not how Smalling views it.
"For [Manchester] United or Roma, Jose picked me for most games because we had a good relationship and he trusted me.
"
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he → view → me
It's very easy to influence younger players but the beauty of Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Jose is that they were able to create that belief in senior players.
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they → influence → players
A lot of managers can give good team talks but if you look at someone eye-to-eye, see the passion and real belief that 'it's going to happen', senior players follow and the rest lock in.
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rest → give → passion
"In that situation, I was having injections in a broken toe because he had created that mentality in me that I could do anything, even if, maybe, I shouldn't.
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I → have → anything
I had reached the limit of the amount [of injections] I could have, had to stop in a warm-up and he was disappointed.
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he → reach → up
It gave me even more belief because it was easy to choose another centre-back, but he wanted me.
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he → give → me
Their two years together at Old Trafford between 2016 and 2018 wasn't the last of their working relationship either - with Mourinho appointed as Roma boss in 2021 with Smalling already established at the Italian club.
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Smalling → appoint → club
"I think he's just following me then," added Smalling.
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Smalling → think → me
"We just hit it off straight away because those kind of moments are just where he really wants me to play.
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me → hit → moments
"And then in Roma, we were able to win a title there and I was able to play consistently with him.
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I → win → him
He is a big part of my career, my journey and we still have a good relationship now.
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we → have → relationship
"He'd message me funny memes and things like this.
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A career that took the 36-year-old from non-league Maidstone to a Champions League final in the space of three years, has, so far, led to 580 club appearances in three countries, playing the majority for Sir Alex Ferguson or Mourinho, plus 31 England caps and trophies with Manchester United and Roma.
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that → take → United
It has now brought Smalling and his family back to the north west of England to figure out his next steps.
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It → bring → steps
Smalling has plans for his career after playing but presently, he is focused on finding a new club.
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he → have → club
"I know my body now better than when I was 26 and that's shown in the games I'm playing," he said.
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he → know → games
"When I was younger, I remember Sir Alex was implementing certain things, like Ryan Giggs doing yoga.
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Giggs → remember → yoga
"When you get beyond 30, each year is precious in terms of enjoying playing and being passionate about football.
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year → get → football
The longevity and recovery starts very early in terms of what I'm eating and doing between sessions, even down to my supplements now.
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I → start → supplements
"In pre-season we have blood tests and the clubs make recommendations.
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clubs → have → recommendations
I went one step further and kind of had genetics testing, which goes deep into everything.
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which → go → everything
A lot of my supplements were changed because of that.
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lot → change → that
Yet wind back 18 years and Smalling did not imagine he was destined to come anywhere near as far as he has.
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he → wind → ?
"It wasn't even plan D," he recalled.
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he → recall → ?
"I was playing at Maidstone, but I was going to university to study financial economics.
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I → play → economics
"I had everything set out.
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everything → have → ?
I already had my A levels, and I was looking at other non-league clubs near Leicester because I still wanted to play.
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I → have → Leicester
"It was very late in the summer when the opportunity came around.
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opportunity → come → summer
I knew it was a slim chance even to be offered but I needed to do everything I could."
The offer was from Fulham.
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offer → know → Fulham
Roy Hodgson watched one practice game, called Smalling into his office and offered a contract.
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Hodgson → watch → contract
"It wasn't even a full week," said Smalling.
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Smalling → say → ?
"I didn't have any time to get my head around it.
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I → have → it
It wouldn't be the last time Hodgson put Smalling into a position where he had no time to think.
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he → put → time
He was part of the Fulham squad that travelled to Blackburn for a Premier League game on 17 January, 2010.
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that → travel → January
As it turned out, the then 20-year-old would play no part in the 2-0 defeat.
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old → turn → defeat
For him, the important part of the trip took place the previous evening.
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part → take → place
…and 23 more, not listed.
