The words of the yellow-reds’ coach two days before the challenge against Fabregas’ team: “Facing Como now is like going to the dentist without anesthesia.”

With just two days to go before the showdown against Como, a press conference was held by Claudio Ranieri. The game is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 2nd of March, at 6 PM in the iconic Olimpico Stadium. Meanwhile, there is a possible forfeiture by player Dovbyk, who is still dealing with discomfort in his right adductor. Aiming for the first leg against the strong Athletic Club. The coach fears Como and does not want to underestimate the match. “RANIERI IN PRESS CONFERENCE”

“How is Dovbyk doing? Does he represent the future of Roma or is there a role that needs to be improved?” “First of all, let’s enjoy him this year, the lad is recovering and should be available from tomorrow. In football, everyone is always under scrutiny.” Are rumors about the successor on the bench causing internal turmoil? Does his opinion matter most in key decisions? “They’ve now involved me with this task; I can provide advice, but in the end, the president and the owner make the decisions. My job is to present a wide array of individuals who could lead Roma, and that’s what I’ll do.” The youngsters understand that we’re all under scrutiny and they need to step up their game. I believe they endured quite a lot at the start of the championship, and the middle part, and are now reaping whatever is within their reach. “It doesn’t bother me because I know my situation, I don’t even think the team is bothered,” he affirms.

Is Fabregas already prepared for a bench role like that at Roma? “I’m not sure if he’s ready, but he will be at the top in 3-4 years. Como is the Parma of the ’90s. This is a team destined to rise greatly. Guardiola once said that facing Atalanta is like going to the dentist. Well, facing Como now is akin to going to the dentist without anesthesia. “This is what I’m expecting on Sunday, it’s going to be an incredibly tough match. We need to be super careful and super prepared for every eventuality, they are really good, good, good,” Has Hummels returned to his level? Did he say anything about his future? “I don’t ask the young man much about his future, I have only told him that someone like him is a reference point and an example for many youngsters. The choice is his, we must respect him no matter what if he still wants to run and sacrifice himself. We have to play three games a week, we re-enter this loop. I strive to select the players who I believe are apt to beat the rivals, but I observe the training and assure myself of certain choices by watching them play. “He is back, it was normal that he had to pay a bit, and he is available”.

“Isn’t it a bit less for her to just suggest the coach?” “I think the presidency trusts me, I will talk about the strengths and weaknesses of every coach and then they will ask me for further clarifications. “If I bring forth names, it’s because I believe in these names. I could state what’s right and what’s not, each one of us has strengths and weaknesses.” I believe the President also has a duty to say ‘I am convinced by this or that’. I will bring forward names that I deem capable of leading Roma. Could De Rossi be a profile you’d suggest to Friedkin? “I agree with what Sabatini said. I was told he’s a great coach, he needs to find his own path, and then he’ll return to Roma even stronger than he was here.”

Has anyone been scouted for the bench and what feedback have you received? “I swear, I only scouted the teams I have to play against. You shouldn’t even ask about other things. We’re talking football, folks, as a tremendous match awaits us this Sunday, and frankly, we haven’t been talking about it nearly enough. Look at Nico Paz – what a phenomenon he is, and let’s not forget Diao. This is set to be a match unlike any other.
With a Spanish coach, who knows them and has a certain philosophy, they are doing well. Como is a team to watch. My job is incredibly difficult, but I do not envy yours: filling out sheets every day is not easy. If I tell you this, what do you ask me afterwards? Thus, you have the opportunity, when you don’t have anything to write, to make names. “What is the reasoning applied in managing the players? Why hasn’t Angelino been able to recover?” “I believe it’s extremely difficult for a player to maintain the same level from the beginning to the end of a season. Sometimes you give minutes to avoid overloading the playtime. If you consider a player’s form, it doesn’t fill up the twelve months of the year. My experience leads me to say that a player, after 3-4 months of good form, tends to experience a slight slump. The key is to identify whether this decline causes problems or if it’s appropriate to switch things up by giving them 1-2 rounds of rest. Just as I have done for some players, in order to rejuvenate them. I believe that sometimes a coach might be scared to make substitutions because it could send a signal to individuals that the match is over the moment a change is made. And I don’t want to give that message, so I waited a little longer and then I changed “.

Are you considering Burdisso as a possible executive entry? “I also saw him at San Siro. Am I leaving and he’s coming in?

How is Gourna-Douath doing? “I’m gradually getting to know him better, telling him a few things. Now, the team is like a well-oiled machine, operating to perfection. We await for him, like all new members, to mesh better into the gears. “They’ve only recently arrived and they need to further sync up,” it reads.

The question swings back to whether they intend to keep Saelemaekers. “It’s not up to me,” comes the reply. “I can provide technical assessments, but the financial decisions are not within my purview.” The assistant doesn’t provide the necessary text to translate into English, so unfortunately I can’t provide a translated version. Please include the text you want to be translated in your request.