Interviews

Claudio Ranieri previews Atalanta showdown: “We must make the fans proud.”

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Andy Mattioli

Roma manager Claudio Ranieri previewed Monday’s fixture with Atalanta at Stadio Olimpico.

Following Roma’s 2-2 draw against Spurs in the Europa League, Ranieri sat down to discuss the next Serie A matchday.

“Atalanta is the pride of us Italians, it plays in a wonderful way.”

“We face the third team in the league, a team that has the philosophy of attacking, a perfect team. We have to make the fans proud.”

“I want to see a good game on Monday. In the last game at home the fans left earlier, now I want them to stay like they did in London.”

“Atalanta can easily eat you up. I’ll try to get our players to stand up to them and make the fans proud.”

“We have to make our fans fall in love again. They are magnificent. The fans understand when you don’t give your best.”

“Saelemaekers? He really likes to play high up the pitch on the centre left, but he told me that he is also good on the other side. He’s a newfound player, he doesn’t have the 90 minutes in his legs yet.”

“The Atalanta should be taken as a model. We have players to bring back to the height, then we will have to satisfy the new coach according to his choices. But Rome wasn’t made in one night.”

“I try to do my best with the players I have. I try to put almost all of them in the best place, I have to ask someone for an extra push.”

“After I left in 2019, those who came after me did not fare better,” he added. “We must be patient and trust our work.”

“Pellegrini must find his confidence back and reset. Together with Lampard he is one of the best goal-scoring midfielders I’ve had.”

“Let me be clear – Mancini, Cristante and Pellegrini have been criticized for getting De Rossi sacked. But that’s not true. On the contrary, they fought to make him stay.”

“I am forcing my players to only play forward. I want us to score goals, I loved the game against Tottenham because of that.”

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MatchDay 16
15 Dec 19:00
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