Mourinho blasts Southgate over treatment of England players

Oli Fisher

Jose Mourinho has insisted that he hopes Manchester United defender Chris Smalling doesn’t make England’s 2018 World Cup squad.

Smalling miss out on making England’s squad to face Brazil and Germany as boss Gareth Southgate questioned his ability as a ball-player.

Phil Jones was included, but was forced to withdraw after limping off during England’s draw with Germany, which left Mourinho furious.

It is for that reason that the United boss is hoping Smalling stays home during the Russia World Cup.

“I hope he doesn’t get his spot because somebody comes injured, he comes injured, Jones comes injured and real injuries because there are other injuries where the players cannot play on the Wednesday and are perfect for the Saturday,” Mourinho said.“Our injuries are real injuries. Jones does not play tomorrow and I can say in advance he doesn’t play the weekend too.

“Smalling is playing all the time and well and tomorrow plays again, we don’t have Jones, we don’t have Eric Bailly again, so Smalling has to play every match and well, that we can say.

“Of course (he wants to play in the World Cup), I say in a selfish perspective but 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.

“I know that if England reach the final of the World Cup I know that a few weeks after we start the Premier League so I know if England goes to the World Cup final I have to start without my players but even so for England, a country I work and live, and probably will live for many years, I would like that to happen and the national team have all the conditions for that.”