Irate Smalling vows to force way back into England squad

United defender stung by Southgate criticism Mourinho to risk Pogba on Basel’s ‘patchy’ turf

Chris Smalling has questioned Gareth Southgate’s judgment, giving a withering response to the England manager’s reasons for dropping him, and vowing to make himself impossible to omit from the World Cup squad.

The Manchester United defender’s remarks came as his manager, Jose Mourinho, claimed he would be happy from a “selfish perspective” if his centre-half did not return to Southgate’s squad after another tirade about the recent treatment of injured defender, Phil Jones, on international duty with England.

Southgate dropped Smalling for England’s friendlies against Germany and Brazil this month after raising concerns about his ability to play out from the back and claiming John Stones, Eric Dier and Harry Maguire were better at it. Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, Michael Keane and Gary Cahill were also selected ahead of Smalling.

But Smalling, speaking ahead of United’s Champions League tie against Basel in Switzerland tonight, admitted he was taken aback by Southgate’s comments.

“Was I surprised? Yes, I was,” said an irate Smalling, 28 today, who has played every minute of United’s past 10 matches and won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League at Old Trafford.

“But you don’t play for one of the biggest clubs in the world for as long as I have and won every trophy bar the Champions League without being able to do everything a top defender needs to do.

“This year, as a team, we’ve got the best defensive record [in the Premier League] and I’m proud to be part of that. While I’m playing regularly under Jose and he’s happy, then I’m happy with that.

“I don’t really feel like I need to prove anything to Gareth. Like I said, I play for one of the most successful managers in Jose and he’s only going to pick the best players.

“While I’m playing regularly and he’s happy then, I think, if we have a successful season and our team continues to concede very few goals, it will give him [Southgate] maybe no choice in the summer but to pick me.”

Mourinho has his own grievances with England. The United manager was furious that Jones, Smalling’s central defensive partner, was given six painkilling injections before the friendly against Germany and then went off injured early in the first half while players from other teams were withdrawn. Mourinho said it had got to the point where, on a personal level, he would be happy if Smalling did not play again for England amid fears about his players’ safety. Jones missed last Saturday’s 4-1 win against Newcastle and is also unavailable for the Basel game and the visit of Brighton to Old Trafford on Saturday, when Mourinho hopes to have another centre-half, Eric Bailly, back from injury.

“I hope he [Smalling] doesn’t get his spot back because somebody goes injured, he comes back injured,” Mourinho said. “There are other injuries where the players cannot play on the Wednesday [for their country] and are perfect for the Saturday [for their club].

“I say this in a selfish perspective but it is not a real perspective because what I want is my players to be happy and go to the national teams and an event like the World Cup.”

Mourinho said he had not spoken to Southgate. “No, I think it’s a conversation between doctors because I’m not a doctor,” he said. “I just get info from my doctor, and the info was they consulted my doctor in relation to Phil Jones with a little problem in the knee when the national team starts working. And then there was no more contact and then the local injections before the match. We were not informed. Apart from that, I don’t have to speak with Southgate. I just wish good and want him to be successful.”

United’s qualification for the Champions League knockout will be secured if CSKA Moscow fail to beat Benfica earlier in the day and they can guarantee top spot in Group A with a point against Basel.

Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have not travelled but Mourinho said he would not be put off starting midfielder Paul Pogba, just back from a 10-week lay-off, despite the St Jakob-park pitch looking patchy, having been relaid following a World Cup playoff because it cut up so badly,