Smalling: Perfect return to action

The Giallorossi returned to action after the international break in impressive fashion, with three second half goals wrapping up the points at the Stadio Olimpico.

Smalling got the first of them – before providing the assists for the next two – and acknowledged afterwards that it was the ideal way to return to action.

“It was the perfect start we needed after the international break,” Smalling told Roma TV.

“We are coming into some big games now and this was the perfect start to get on a run and we go into Thursday now with a lot of confidence.”

He added: “I think a lot of players go off [for internationals] and some others rest, but I think this week we’ve been able to work hard.

“A lot of injured players are coming back and we need the whole squad now, because we are coming into a period of so many games and everybody is going to be needed.”

Smalling was asked if the team was feeling more settled now.

“I think game by game [we are finding our balance],” he said. “At the start of the season there were a lot of new players coming in, a new manager, and I think you can see on the pitch that we are improving each game.

“Long may this continue, because we’ve got some big ambitions this season and we need to keep improving each game.”

He added: “Tactically the manager can have slightly different ideas [with different defensive partnerships], but he wants us to play a high line and he wants us to be aggressive – and I think you can see that on the pitch. The more games we play together and the better understanding we’ll have of the manager’s instructions.

“I’m enjoying my football and I think the team, as you can see, is enjoying our football too. We need to keep going because there is a long way to go yet.”