Chris Smalling’s return gives Roma hope for Manchester United clash | Nicky Bandini

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Roma’s domestic form has unravelled but their defensive talisman will be available to face his former club

As Paulo Fonseca watched relegation-threatened Cagliari score against his Roma team for the third time, he chose to see the glass as half-full. This had been another grim Sunday afternoon in a spring packed full of them, but at least he had been able to get two of his first-choice defenders back on the pitch ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final against Manchester United.

“The important thing was for Chris [Smalling] and [Leonardo] Spinazzola to play [after recent injuries],” Fonseca affirmed afterward, highlighting the Englishman’s 59 minutes as especially pleasing. Smalling had been out for six weeks with a knee injury, during which time he endured the trauma of an armed robbery at his home. “He played really well,” said Fonseca. “The team looked confident with Chris.”

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from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/28/chris-smallings-return-gives-roma-hope-for-manchester-united-clash

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