Reds end bid for Van Dijk
play football whether he’s in his room or in the changing room, kicking balls, knocking things over. He’s a fantastic talent.”
And Rashford can dish the stick back to defenders who kick him as well. “He can give a reaction, I’ve kicked him a few times!” said Smalling with a smile.
“He is unfazed by anything, which is great because he’s played in big games, finals, and he’s been the one leading our line. Full credit to him.
“There’s some young players you see change, but with Marcus I don’t CHRIS SMALLING says he has nothing to prove to Jose Mourinho about playing through the pain barrier.
The Manchester United and England defender was publicly criticised by United boss Mourinho several times last season as he struggled with first a toe injury and then a knee problem.
At one point Mourinho even said: “Smalling doesn’t feel he can play 100 per cent without pain.”
But it was later revealed Mourinho, right with Smalling, had asked the England defender to play with two painkilling injections to get through the 4-0 defeat at Chelsea in October – only for it to emerge afterwards that he had fractured his toe in two places.
Smalling, who is now fully fit and preparing for England’s game with Scotland on Saturday, said: “I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove. The manager knows my character, knows what type of player I am and that’s not changed.
“I had a couple of injections before the Chelsea game, because you want to play. Soon after that it got worse and that’s when I had to have the lay-off. You always want to push yourself because you don’t want to let the players or fans down.
“In the Chelsea game I proved I can play with the injections.
“I don’t think that any player is ever 100 per cent. But it’s not about always being 100 per cent, it’s about going on the pitch and doing a job.
“No, the boss hasn’t apologised. It’s just professional. All of us are professionals. The manager’s frustration was directed at everybody. We had a lot of injuries and he was frustrated players weren’t available. “At the time, I had injured the toe and then played on and there was obviously a break. He didn’t know the full extent. You just keep playing until physically you can’t – and that was the story with the break.
“I don’t think he knew the full picture; once it was cleared up it was all good. All managers are demanding. It’s good when he shows that frustration because it shows he wants you back. If he wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t say any of these things. I take it as a positive, as a challenge.” the two clubs. We apologise to the owner, board of directors and fans of Southampton for any misunderstanding regarding Virgil van Dijk. We respect Southampton’s position and can confirm we have ended interest in the player.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that Van Dijk had indicated he would prefer to sign for Liverpool ahead of Manchester City and Chelsea, who are also keen.
It was thought that the prospect of playing for enthusiastic manager Jurgen Klopp had swung the race in Liverpool’s favour.
But Southampton reacted furiously to the reports and felt their rivals had overstepped the mark, asking Premier League officials to look into it.
Liverpool are now spared the potential embarrassment of any inquisition into their tactics, although Klopp has missed out on his big defensive target of the close season. The Reds had been prepared to break the world transfer record for a defender to secure Van Dijk although, ironically from Southampton’s perspective, their complaint and Liverpool’s withdrawal could now cost them.
With Liverpool out of the running, City will now be favourites to sign Van Dijk, but they have made it clear they are not prepared to pay anything like £60m to land him.
City paid just under £50m for England defender John Stones a year ago but are unlikely to pay that much for the Dutchman.
Liverpool have spoken with Sporting Lisbon about their winger Gelson Martins, but only as an alternative should they fail to reach an agreement for Roma’s Mohamed Salah.
The Reds failed with an opening bid of £28m last week for the Egyptian but are expected to try again with an improved offer. KLOPP: U-turn BRIGHTON are favourites to beat West Ham to the signing of Brazilian forward Jonathan Cafu. The Seagulls are negotiating with Bulgarian side Ludogorets to agree a fee for £10million-rated Cafu, 25, who has previously attracted interest from Stoke and Leicester. Meanwhile Brighton midfielder Steve Sidwell, 34, has signed a new one-year contract with the club.