Claudio Ranieri is set to begin his third stint as Roma’s manager with a challenging match against league leaders Napoli. Ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Ranieri addressed the media in a press conference.
On Paulo Dybala’s condition, he stated, “We need to help him. If he has discomfort, it needs to be resolved. If necessary, we’ll investigate further to understand the reasons for the pain. I find him positive and proactive, but I don’t want to risk him. We have three matches in sequence: I’ll talk to him and see what he can give.”
Regarding Lorenzo Pellegrini, Ranieri emphasized, “As captain, Pellegrini must know how to react: when you fall, you have to get back up. I think he’s a bit introverted for a Roman; he needs to react, but I’m convinced he will.”
Ranieri expressed his thoughts on the team’s mentality: “It’s difficult for me to talk about the team’s mentality. When you start losing, you enter a negative spiral. I need to restore their confidence. What counts are the matches: getting results in sequence allows you to regain self-esteem and confidence. The quality is there; this is a good team. They need to be supported by me and everyone else, including the fans.”
Discussing Napoli, he remarked, “I had said, before the start of the championship, that Conte finishes first or second. We’re talking about a team that is doing well: it will be a beautiful match, difficult for us but also for them.”
On the possibility of Bryan Cristante playing in defense, Ranieri noted, “Cristante can also play there, but if I have Hummels, why should he do it? If he hasn’t done it before, evidently Hummels wasn’t well. Many times the coach makes moves justified by what he sees every day.”
Ranieri also touched on the importance of rekindling the players’ passion for the game: “We need to find the enthusiasm to play like children. We’re not children, true, but we must give everything together and united.”
The new Roma manager concluded by thanking the fans for their support and emphasizing the need for unity as the team faces its upcoming challenges.
