Claudio Ranieri, a senior advisor for AS Roma, has expressed his confidence in the club’s current situation, asserting that despite recent public disagreements, the team is working cohesively towards a common goal. He also shared his perspective on the necessary steps to revitalize Italian football following their third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Speaking at the Premio Città di Roma ceremony, Ranieri offered a brief but impactful assessment of Roma’s prospects as the season nears its conclusion. “Roma? We expect the best, the players are giving everything. Everyone united for a single objective,” he stated, projecting a positive outlook.
However, Ranieri strategically avoided commenting on the reported tensions between himself and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, which have garnered significant media attention. His reticence on this matter, coupled with his emphasis on unity, suggests a desire to avoid further public escalation.
Addressing the pressing issue of the Italian national team’s future, Ranieri emphasized a fundamental solution: “I think we must start from the grassroots and make sure more Italians play, because our national team coaches today have very little choice.” This viewpoint aligns with suggestions from the players’ association and is increasingly becoming a widely accepted position among experienced figures in Italian football.
English Translation:
Claudio Ranieri, a senior advisor for AS Roma, has spoken about Roma’s current situation, insisting the club is pulling in the same direction despite public tensions surfacing in recent weeks. He also offered his assessment of how Italian football must rebuild after its third consecutive World Cup absence.
The Roma senior advisor was speaking at the Premio Città di Roma ceremony at the CONI Salone d’Onore. He kept his comments brief but to the point, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
Regarding the club’s situation heading into the final weeks of the season, Ranieri was resolutely positive. “Roma? We expect the best, the players are giving everything. Everyone united for a single objective,” he said.
Notably, Ranieri declined to address the widely reported tensions with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, which have dominated headlines since his pre-match comments ahead of the Pisa fixture were made public. His silence on the matter speaks volumes, though his insistence on unity suggests he has no desire to escalate the situation further in public.
On the broader question of Italian football’s future, a topic that has consumed the country since the defeat to Bosnia, Ranieri was concise but clear. “I think we must start from the grassroots and make sure more Italians play, because our national team coaches today have very little choice,” he said. This view aligns closely with the proposal put forward by the players’ association in recent weeks, and is rapidly becoming the consensus position among Italian football’s most experienced figures.
