Opinion: Smalling stepping up to the challenge

It takes a certain type of person to leave your home for a new land, with a different language, culture and customs. Especially for one that’s ancient and set in its ways - especially when it comes to its football. A demanding location, where one is immediately expected to answer the call and fulfill their duty. Chris Smalling’s first steps in Rome have foreshadowed a player who has the character to handle the pressure of the eternal city, as well as the adversity of a squad in search of a new beginning.

With the appointment of Paulo Fonseca this past summer, Roma’s management made their intentions clear - the team would play offensive and on the front foot, yet with composure to manipulate more tactical opponents. Such have been the outcomes for the Giallorossi, yet inconsistent refereeing decisions and an injury crisis have laid way to a tumultuous Roman autumn.

The Serie A season opener against Genoa was a match that didn’t bode well for onlookers. After conceding the lead on three occasions, questions surrounded the players and manager: would this be a Roma that mirrored the past two seasons or were there the foundations for a new beginning?

On comes a player from the English Premier League. Many fans initially saw Smalling as a player as “just a loanee,” and someone to fill space on the roster. Those who kept tabs on English football knew Manchester United was at its worst point in ages, and taking one of their expendable players seemed to be doing them a favour. Although he had won the Premier League several seasons ago, Smalling somehow found himself lost in the shuffle of a club that was grabbing at straws to return to England’s top four positions. United’s expendable loss was about to become Roma’s gain.

The call-up against Atalanta came as a surprise, and few expected him to get the starting nod. After all, he had only been part of the team for less than a month. Affronting Gian Piero Gasperini’s well-oiled machine was an uphill battle, as Duvan Zapata had gotten the better of him one-on-one. It was a 70-minute appearance that showed promise, but the end product was still at a distance.

Against Lecce, Smalling was paired with Gianluca Mancini. A dominant defensive display led to the team’s first clean sheet in Serie A. The conundrums against Atalanta had disappeared, with the centre-back offering relentless pressure - closing down space and quickly playing the ball forward. In such an open match, Smalling revealed one trick up his sleeve that is crucial to Fonseca’s high defensive line - blistering pace.

The past month has been a bit more chaotic, as Roma has had to circumvent dubious officiating, as well as a plethora of injuries. Approaching Milan, the manager’s hand was forced to field players out of position. Mancini played in midfield, while Federico Fazio partnered alongside the Englishman in an unorthodox setup.

The match unfolded as Edin Dzeko put the Giallorossi ahead, while Theo Hernandez leveled against the run of play less than 20 minutes later.

Smalling continued to press the opposition to reclaim the lead, hardly putting one foot wrong throughout the entire match. The tense affair played out with Nicolo Zaniolo scoring the go-ahead strike, and the defender coming close to adding a third goal for the Giallorossi. In all, Smalling won several aerial duels, proving an all-encompassing skillset.

Daniele Orsato’s final whistle signaled more than just the end of the match - it was a culmination of the time and energy the players had spent to sweep the obstacles aside, and come out as the victors. Smalling had proven he was able to adapt and overcome to yet another tactical change against a speedy and hungry side.

Since the loss against Atalanta, Roma hasn’t allowed more than one goal per match, and a large part of this statistic is due to the stability and upstart Smalling has brought to the backline. While the calendar is condensed before the Christmas break, Roma will continue to grow and improve as long as the Englishman has his say in the matter.

Maybe it’s his humble beginnings as a dishwasher, his climb up the English football ladder or having witnessed his mother’s fight to provide for her family which allows Smalling to tackle adversity. In truth, it’s probably a combination of these life lessons which have helped him explode as a standout centre-back in the league.

The season is still young, yet Smalling’s first two months in Rome have proven that he has the fortitude to lead the backline. If his past and present have shown anything, it’s that if you throw him to the wolves, he’ll come out as the leader of the pack.