Smalling: You can't start better than we have

Smalling headed home from a corner with 25 minutes remaining, ensure the Giallorossi's perfect start to the Serie A campaign continued - even if neither scoreline so far has been particularly convincing.

“Three points is the most important thing,” Smalling said.

“We can play better, we can finish the game earlier, but it’s two games in and we wanted six points. We can only play better; having six points is the most important thing.”

On the team’s increased consistency, he added: “I think it’s rhythm, getting used to the players we are playing with. We’ve had a year with the manager and a full pre-season, so this team is improving.

“We’ve added great players this year and we need to keep improving and winning. We’ve started the season with maximum points.”

Smalling was keen to point out that the side could easily have scored more goals on another night, but their defensive quality should still be taken as a positive sign.

“I think you are seeing a more complete team, which takes time,” he noted.

“Each day we are working hard. Two 1-0 wins but we could have scored three or four – yet we still managed to see out both games really well. Last year we did not always close games out as well as we have done so far this season.”

He also had words of encouragement for Georgino Wijnaldum, who suffered a serious injury in the final training session before the match.

“We are so disappointed for Gini," he said.

"He was feeling good, he was feeling settled and he really felt like he was a part of this team since he had been here. So we are gutted for him and we just hope he is back as soon as possible, because he’s such a quality addition for us.”