Florent Ghisolfi's press conference

This is what our technical director had to say...

“Claudio Ranieri needs no introductions. We all know who he is. Right now Roma needs experience and we need to go back to our roots.

“Ranieri knows the team, he knows the club and more importantly he's an excellent coach with a wealth of international experience. That's why we thought he was the right person for the Roma project at this moment in time.

“It's also important to stress that he's not just our coach. He'll become part of the management team here in future within the Friedkin family's project.”

I've been told that you were the one pushing to bring in Claudio Ranieri. Was it your choice?

“It was a very important choice and as such it was a decision that we took as a collective, together with the Friedkin family.”

What targets have you set Ranieri for this season?

“The target is to do as well as possible. He's joined us at a difficult time. We need to show our pride and climb as high up the table as possible. We need to focus on the here and now so that we can move in that direction.”

What was the decisive factor in settling on Ranieri: his coaching ability, his human qualities, his experience, his global image?

“All of the above. He's a person of great humanity. He knows Roma and the club's values. He's a great coach but it's also the start of a new project, with seven months as coach before he moves upstairs. It's important to have a clear vision and clear plans with him.”

Has the coach asked for any particular players to be signed? 

[Speaking after Ranieri has already replied] “I can confirm what the coach said. He's only ever spoken about the players we have here. First he wants to see and get a feel for the situation himself, then we'll work together on other things.”

Don't you think the club statement announcing Ranieri's appointment focuses a bit too much on the future rather than on the season at hand, which is central?

[Speaking after Ranieri explained that “This season is absolutely central”] “It's exactly as he said. We'll work together in unison. He's a central part of the project with two stages: now as a coach, and later as a director, which will also be very important.”

Did any other coaches turn down the job before you settled on Ranieri?

“Claudio was our priority.”