Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, has responded to Jose Mourinho’s comments about his desite to play while not 100% fit, saying the United manager spoke before knowing the full extent of his injuries.

Mourinho then accused him, as well as teammates Phil Jones and Luke Shaw, of not being brave enough.

Speaking ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Saturday, Smalling said: “Obviously he didn’t know the full extent [of the injuries] at that time.


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In April, speaking after United had beaten Anderlecht in the Europa League quarterfinal, Mourinho said: “It’s time for Jones and Smalling to be brave, because for the team you have to do everything. You can’t do miracles, but you have to try to do everything to accelerate the process.”