Smalling: Relishing Italy challenge

Chris Smalling has realised after his Roma debut defeat that “in Italy each game is going to be a battle, but that is a challenge I’m relishing.”

The former Manchester United defender made his first appearance in a Giallorossi jersey and started the 2-0 Serie A home defeat to Atalanta.

Despite the result, Smalling was probably the best performing Roma player on the night and even went
close to opening the scoring with a first-half header.

“I’m happy to make my debut at home but disappointed not to win,” Smalling told the official club website.

“We have big dreams and aspirations this season and we need to win our home games. We need to make sure we
don’t slip up too many more times at home this season.

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“I think in the second half there was more urgency. The first half was very cagey, there were very few chances. We needed to get on the front foot a bit more, especially because we were playing at home. We did that a bit more in the second half but we started a bit too slowly.”