What did Ranieri think when he listened to Gasperini’s press conference yesterday?
This is the question the entire city is asking itself in the face of Sir Claudio’s continued silence following the chaos unleashed last Friday by his ill-advised statements on Sky and DAZN.
This week, he has been interviewed several times by the owners directly and by his trusted friend Ed Shipley.
But the substance remains unchanged: both he and the coach have reiterated the incompatibility of their respective positions for the present and the future.
Barring any dramatic developments, Sir Claudio will be alongside Ricky Massara in the stands tonight, as he almost always was during the period when, following knee surgery at the start of the season, he struggled to walk.
It will also be interesting to see the response from the Giallorossi fans. Ranieri certainly didn’t intend to stir up all this fuss with that interview last Friday.
He chose to clarify a few points. In perfect good faith, Claudio spoke for the good of Roma, to defend the club, the players, and the staff.
As Gazzetta dello Sport reports, the intent was obviously noble; the hope was to dot the i’s and curb Gasperini’s exuberance. Ranieri clearly wanted to send positive messages, especially in defense of Roma’s internal environment and of some players who, in his opinion, had been delegitimized by the coach.
The owners have reaffirmed their faith in Ranieri and would not want to lose his consultancy and other services, but now the former coach is having a lot of thoughts.
As Corriere dello Sport notes, the possibility remains that Ranieri might step back, stepping away from the operational aspects of the Giallorossi project and effectively leaving the field open to the other contender, Gasperini, who in turn wants clarity and certainty regarding future planning.
