Ranieri: “This is my last Roma side, I understood the Friedkins and on Totti’s return…”
Claudio Ranieri, fresh off a victory in the Rome derby against Lazio, opened up about his final chapter with AS Roma in an interview with Corriere dello Sport. The veteran manager, known for his wit and charm, shares his thoughts on his return, the Friedkin ownership, and the possibility of Francesco Totti's comeback. The post Ranieri: “This is my last Roma side, I understood the Friedkins and on Totti’s return…” appeared first on FootItalia.com.
Claudio Ranieri, fresh off a victory in the Rome derby against Lazio, opened up about his final chapter with AS Roma in an interview with Corriere dello Sport. The veteran manager, known for his wit and charm, shares his thoughts on his return, the Friedkin ownership, and the possibility of Francesco Totti’s comeback.
“I am Benjamin Button,” Ranieri quips, acknowledging the strong emotions of his last stint with Roma. “It’s the final stage, and just when you think it’s over, that’s when the climb begins.”
Ranieri reveals a personal change, noting how he now manages to control his emotions during the pre-match anthem at the Olimpico: “I used to not come up from the tunnel because I would get emotional, but now I can handle it. The chant of sixty thousand gives me that last burst of energy.”
On his return to management, Ranieri shares, “In recent months, I’ve received more requests than after the triumph with Leicester. When I realized there was still a desire for Ranieri, the desire returned to me too, but I knew I would only do it for two teams, Cagliari and Roma.”
Discussing the Friedkin ownership, Ranieri expresses understanding: “I get the Friedkins, they want to do well, to bring Roma back to the top. They don’t speak in public? Americans are like that, they entrust tasks to the people they choose, and if they don’t do well, they change them.”
Ranieri describes finding the team low on morale but physically fit upon his arrival. His approach has been to stimulate the players and quickly build rapport. “I simply brought my ideas, tried to stimulate the boys, and we quickly got in sync,” he explains.
On his coaching philosophy, Ranieri states, “I demand a lot in training, but when the match comes, I give freedom to the players because if they’ve worked well, they know how to behave both defensively and offensively.”
Reflecting on the recent derby victory, Ranieri says, “After winning the fifth derby out of five, I was happy for the fans. The joy you can give is greater than what you feel yourself.”
Regarding the winter transfer market, Ranieri acknowledges the need for reinforcements: “I already have a good squad, but it needs to be completed because soon we’ll be playing three games a week.”
On star player Paulo Dybala, Ranieri enthuses, “I see Dybala with a smile. The smile is important; whoever comes to the field with a smile, like Paulo, makes things easier and fills your heart.”
Finally, addressing the potential return of club legend Francesco Totti, Ranieri remains open but cautious: “I can guarantee that I will talk with Francesco, but first he will have to understand what he wants to do when he grows up. I’ll talk to him, just as I talked with Daniele De Rossi, and I would love to embrace Bruno Conti, whom I haven’t seen in too long.”
The post Ranieri: “This is my last Roma side, I understood the Friedkins and on Totti’s return…” appeared first on FootItalia.com.
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