Ciro Ferrara reminisced about his time with Claudio Ranieri and Antonio Conte as Napoli prepare to face Roma. Ferrara, who will be watching the match from the sidelines for Dazn, shared his memories and insights on the upcoming clash in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport
Reflecting on his time with Ranieri at Napoli, Ferrara recalled, “Almost everything, and clearly. Ranieri’s first year at Napoli, with qualification for the UEFA Cup; the second, with the 5-1 win in Valencia and then, unfortunately, the crisis of results that led to the change.”
Ferrara also touched on his connection with Ranieri at Juventus: “I took over from him with two games left in the 2008-2009 season.”
Describing Ranieri’s impact at Napoli in the post-Maradona era, Ferrara stated, “His Napoli was the first after Maradona, with all that such a separation could create in the environment. A collective trauma. But Ranieri was excellent, he knew about innovations, especially in the defensive phase, where you could see Sacchi’s principles.”
When asked about the upcoming Napoli-Roma match, Ferrara predicted, “Tactical. As it should be between two coaches who are bound by friendship, know each other, and therefore will face each other at a strategic level. Conte knows well that Ranieri will try to set traps everywhere.”
Regarding Ranieri’s relationship with Roma, Ferrara explained, “For the fans, Claudio is one of the people. He doesn’t need to immerse himself in the environment. It won’t be easy, nor is the calendar that awaits him, but perhaps it’s even better this way because games of this caliber are prepared with enthusiasm.”
On the Conte-Napoli partnership, Ferrara is optimistic: “The ideal fusion at the most propitious moment. De Laurentiis has chosen the perfect coach, and Conte has immediately brought him to the top. The season is long, I know how much Antonio is worth – whom I know well – but, to begin with, regaining the Champions League would already be a success. And anyway, we’ll see. For Napoli, which has always been in Europe, this absence has been a low blow.”
Ferrara highlighted key players to watch: “Buongiorno has had a decisive impact, he has established himself without hesitation, he has become a pillar and reference: he is strong, strong, strong. And for Roma, the turning point can pass through Pellegrini’s leadership, serious, scrupulous, attentive. It’s never easy to be a prophet in your homeland, and when results don’t come, everything becomes even worse. But he has the stuff.”
On the influence of coaches, Ferrara noted, “Ranieri has empathy, it almost seems that Rome really needed his presence. He doesn’t need to immerse himself in the environment; he’s already its master. And Conte’s charisma is impressive, it has settled on Naples and is characterizing it in his own way. He has a sense of command, an authoritativeness even when he speaks.”
Ferrara concluded by commenting on the changing landscape of Italian football: “The team that kills the tournament is missing; it will be an exciting championship.”
