Former Roma striker Luca Toni has shared his thoughts on Claudio Ranieri’s return to the club, drawing from his experience playing under the veteran coach during the 2009-10 season when they narrowly missed out on the Serie A title.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Toni explained why Ranieri’s approach will be crucial in the current situation: “Ranieri will have entered the dressing room, defusing the situation with a joke. Something like: I’m almost retired, don’t let me end with a bad showing… Claudio, besides being an experienced coach, is a great psychologist. He’s the right man for the current Roma.”
Reflecting on their near-miss for the Scudetto, Toni said: “It’s the biggest regret of my career, and I think it’s the same for Ranieri. We threw away the game against Samp and there the dream ended. But I’ll never forget the roar of the Olimpico after my goal against Inter. I still get chills.”
Toni emphasized the importance of the Roma fans and how Ranieri’s connection with them could be beneficial: “The support of Roma fans is special, and Roma can’t play without the push of the public. Ranieri loves Roma and is loved by the fans: his return will bring peace.”
However, Toni cautioned that Ranieri alone won’t be enough to turn things around: “Now it’s up to the players to do something more, taking responsibility to get out of this situation. The excuses are over, stop blaming the coaches. Roma has a strong squad, not one for 12th place.”
When asked about key players, Toni praised Dybala but stressed the need for consistency: “Dybala is not up for discussion, but he needs to be fit to help: in difficult moments, the big players must lead by example, more by chasing opponents than with a shot to the top corner.”
Toni also shared his thoughts on former teammate Daniele De Rossi’s recent dismissal: “The sacking is an open wound for Daniele, he loves Roma too much. He would have deserved more time.”
Looking ahead, Toni believes the Champions League race isn’t over for Roma: “Ranieri has performed miracles, starting with winning the Premier League with Leicester, so never say never… But right now, the Giallorossi must only think about getting points.”
On Ranieri’s motivations, Toni concluded: “He accepted out of love and people know it: he won’t gain or lose anything. He’ll come out with his head held high, with or without a miracle.”
