Ranieri's press conference ahead of Naples-Rome

Here’s what Claudio Ranieri had to say.

Are Mats Hummels and Paulo Dybala fit enough to start away to Napoli?

“I saw Dybala today for the first 20 minutes, so let me speak to him and the physios. It’s not just about how he feels, but also how many training sessions he needs before being available. Hummels was also in training with me last week, then he was unwell for the first two days [this week]. He was in full training today, so that reassures me that I’m free to decide as I wish, which is so important.”

What sort of team are Antonio Conte’s Napoli? How will you approach the game?

“As I said before the season, Conte finishes first or second. His team are sharp, on the up and performing well.  It’ll be a great and tough match for us, but I’m sure it’ll be difficult for them too.”

After the first few days, what’s your impression of the team? Do they have the winning mentality that your predecessor demanded?

“Right now, it’s hard to say if this team has a ‘winning mentality’ or not. The players are talented, but when you start losing, you can spiral into negativity. My task is to make them believe in themselves and in their team-mates again. 

“Matches, of course, are what matter. Getting results consistently boosts self-esteem, confidence and belief in the group. The quality is there. This is a good team with talent and potential. They just need support from me and everyone around them. The fans are crucial as they’re the soul of a team. The coach might be good or bad, but the fans are the fuel driving the squad. Right now, as a team, we need to bring them along with us through excellent performances and a strong desire to show who we are. Football is simple.”

Regarding Dybala, is there a plan to address his recurring physical issues? It’s been months without clear injuries, yet he’s still reporting discomfort.

“Of course, we need to help the lad. If he’s feeling discomfort, it needs to be resolved. If nothing shows up, we need to dig deeper. Why does he feel this pain? We’re doing everything possible to ensure that he’s fully available. I’ve spoken to him in the past few days, and he’s always positive and full of desire, but I’m someone who doesn’t like to take risks with my players. I’d rather lose someone for one game than for a month. Let’s see. We have three matches coming up in quick succession, all important ones. I want to talk to him and understand.”

People have compared you to a Harry Potter-like figure, arriving with a magic wand to solve problems. Do you like this depiction or does it create pressure?

“I thank the fans for the trust they’ve placed in me. The love I’ve received has been wonderful and I’m very grateful. I’ve always felt pressure and it would be a bad thing if I didn’t. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have chosen to come back. The team needs everyone. They’ve done poorly, they’ve done worse, but now they need to get back to doing what they know best. It’s not about a magician. It’s about a normal person giving them confidence and slowly solving the problems of a ‘sick’ team if they are indeed ‘sick’. 

“At every club I’ve managed, I’ve tried to bring out my players’ inner child. We have a wonderful job. It’s something we dreamt of as kids. Now we’re fulfilling that dream, and we must approach it with the enthusiasm of a child.  We’re no longer children. We are adults, experienced and responsible to those who pay us and to the Roma fans. You might play well or poorly, but this is a team that have played well before and know how to. They need to show us. That’s it; it’s very simple. 

Of course, if someone is unwell, they don’t just recover overnight. There are steps to take and we’re ready to take them together and united as a team, management, dressing room, all of us. I’m confident the fans will support us and help us out.”

Let me give you two names: Artem Dovbyk and Lorenzo Pellegrini. How is the Ukrainian doing and what kind of striker do you think he can be? He seems to perform better when running into space in behind.

“I agree, I’ve already told the team that.”

And how is he?

“He’s doing well, I’ve spoken to him. He’s fine, all good.”

As for Pellegrini, what have you said to him, Roman to Roman, to help him get out of this situation where he’s being booed?

“As captain, he needs to know how to react and then do it. When you fall, the most beautiful thing is how you get back up and the determination shown. He’s a bit introverted for a Roman and he keeps everything inside. As Romans, we are usually more open, but he bottles it all up. He needs to learn how to respond when faced with adversity and I’m convinced he will.”

What’s it like in the dressing room, especially in terms of morale? Ivan Juric said the group was sad after Daniele De Rossi’s dismissal.

“If Juric said that, imagine how it was for me... That’s why I spoke about their inner child. I reminded them of what we all used to be like. I’m still doing this job because I still have that dream within me and I want them to rediscover that dream. We have the best job in the world and we’re paid for it. What more could you ask for? Sure, there are difficulties, but that’s OK. Only those who fall have the chance to get back up. And we have the chance to rise again.”

If Roma were to play with a back three, considering you said Angelino will no longer be used in that role, is there a chance we might see Bryan Cristante in the back three?

“Careful now, coaches are liars... Cristante can play there too, why not? But if I have Hummels, why should I play Cristante there? If he didn’t play before, it’s probably because he wasn’t comfortable. I don’t know. Sometimes a coach makes decisions that seem strange, but the coach is the one who’s with the players every day. He knows what he can ask of them, what they can give and how to help them recover. I don’t say, ‘I won’t play him there’, and then put him there. Football is so varied from one day to the next. As coaches, we have to stay sharp and be ready for anything. I know you want to know if we’ll play with three, four or five at the back, but nowadays all teams change. How do Napoli play? 4-3-3, you say? Take a closer look...”

Three-and-a-half?

“Five-and-a-half… Four-and-a-half…”.