Ranieri previews Braga clash

This is what the boss had to say...

Can you give us an update on the treatment room? Has Zeki Celik recovered? The club spent a lot of money on Matias Soule. How's he doing at the moment?

“Everyone is fit except [Bryan] Cristante. [Artem] Dovbyk and Celik are both available for selection. Soule is the future. After a fantastic season at Frosinone, he joined Roma and thought he could do the same things. People know him a bit better now and changing clubs affected him a little, but he's a player I'm counting on, and Roma are counting on. He looks good to me. We'll try to get the best out of him.”

Do you get the impression Roma might find more joy in the cup competitions than the league this season?

“Every match should give us something to think about and make us want to give our all. That's the only way to create a good team spirit. We have to do well in the Europa League, Coppa Italia and Serie A. We have to give our all in every game – that's our aim. We'll see how we fare this season.”

What do you make of Dovbyk? How can you get him scoring again after 40 days without a goal? And how can you help him escape from the clutches of two centre-backs double up on him all the time? Could you bring in another striker to play alongside him in January? 

“I think the main thing is he needs to get back into the good physical shape he was in before. He had injury problems then flu, and with a body like his he struggles more than a player of a smaller stature. Then of course we need to figure out how to give him the service he needs. I've explained it and I've shown it, but he needs to work for it too. I think his first goal should be to get back to 100% because a player with his build can't perform well unless he's 100% fit. We'll try to get him back into shape, and the better we get to know him and the more the team's confidence grows, the more he'll benefit.”

How's Lorenzo Pellegrini looking? Might this be the game he makes his return? What does the future hold for him, since his contract expires next year?

“I've spoken to him on a personal level but I haven't discussed his contract with him and I don't know what he wants to do in the future. He deserves a lot. He's looked a lot more composed in training and that's the main thing. He's training well and scoring goals again, albeit in training, but he's getting back to his usual excellent self.”

Does Paulo Dybala still need to be handled with care, even though he seems to be in good shape? Could he play this match as well?

“As you know, the night before every match, I reflect on the training sessions we've had and the previous game. I'll need to speak to some of the players to understand things. This game against Braga is important but so is the next one against Como, so I have to decide what the best thing is.”

Roma had a lot of shots against Lecce and seemed to have a lot more energy. What have you given the team? Have you changed something psychologically or in terms of fitness? And regarding the future, what sort of management role will you have exactly? Are you involved in choosing the next coach?

“I'm involved half and half. I have some fantastic players who give me reason to be calm about the future. Together with the owners and [Florent] Ghisolfi, we're thinking about everything – transfers and everything else. We've touched on the topic of the coach. It's not the priority at the moment but it is something we're thinking about, without going into any details.

“What I've given the team is myself, the way I am. I try to be understanding. If I'm comfortable with the lads, if they understand their needs, I get on with everyone.

“The team had been coached well. Every coach has their own way of preparing for matches, and sees the game their own way. But if the team ran a lot against Napoli and on other occasions, like Atalanta and Tottenham – and I'm talking on a purely physical level, sometimes perhaps running a lot but not the right way – but if they did that it's because they'd been trained for it beforehand. A coach can't come in and make players run. They had been given the right preparation by previous coaches and fitness coaches. I've benefited from the previous work done and added my ideas about how I like the game to be played. Players are like sponges. Some coaches play a set way, some use different formations, some change formation mid-game, and the players are able to take on board what we want from them. Obviously that helps me a lot.”

Will Mario Hermoso and Niccolo Pisilli get a chance to start games sometimes?

“As I said, I'll assess everything tonight. Tomorrow I'll talk to the lads, then I'll decide. I'm not worried. Some of them haven't got 90 minutes in them yet, so I need to decide whether to play them from the start or off the bench.”

The other day you said, 'What if I turn out to be the coach for next season?' Was that just a joke?

“It was just a joke. That's not happening.”

Regardless of the name, are there are particular qualities you're looking for in the next coach?

“We want a good coach. That's it. Hopefully we won't get it wrong.”

Who could replace Angelino if you decide to rest him?

“Firstly, we have [Alexis] Saelemaekers here. Then there's [Nicola] Zalewski, [Stephan] El Shaarawy and other options if I do decide to rest him. I could play with four at the back.”

What sort of Braga team are you expecting? And since you're at home, would you say Roma are favourites?

“Nowadays home advantage counts for little. Obviously the Roma fans are very passionate and really get behind the team but I expect to see a Braga side who know how to play football, in the Portuguese way with a European influence. I mean that can play direct, but can keep the ball too, can press, they have with good players – and I know [Joao] Moutinho as he was a player of mine. I expect a good game with two teams both trying to win.”