Ranieri's news conference before Venezia

This is what the boss had to say...

Are you happy with Roma's January transfer business?

“You know, what I said about the Friedkins is true: they've spent a pot-load of money. Some people might say, 'They haven't spent well.' And I could agree that they haven't spent it well. I'm not here to defend anyone. I say things as they are and I say what I think. They've spent 1.2 billion. And they might spend another billion for the stadium, ok?

“Financial Fair Play is another matter. It involves all of the salaries at AS Roma, not just the players. There's a limit they can't go beyond. That goes for this year, for the summer transfer market and possibly next January too. And that's if we're able to increase our income and reduce our outgoings. Is that all clear? How do we do that? By trying to go as far as possible in Europe. We're out of the Coppa Italia and didn't get money from that. Hopefully we can go further in Europe so that we earn more money.

“There are lots of things to consider and different ways to bring in money. [Tammy] Abraham, [Riccardo] Calafiori and lots of other names could bring in money. Because beyond a certain limit we simply cannot go. Or if we do, we can't play in Europe for two or three years. So we have to make do. We have to try and do as much as we can without going beyond the maximum deficit and manoeuvre what is manoeuvrable.

“That's why I'm very happy. The Friedkins couldn't have done more than they have done. They couldn't take another lump of cash and say, 'Here's some more money. Go and do it.' They could have done that if we hadn't had the salary limit. They could buy someone for 30, 40, 50 million but then they have to pay them a salary. And to do that, we have to bring our wage bill down. That's what it wasn't possible. It's as simple as that.

“It really is simple. I'm not happy about it either. And if you remember – because you often forget things and remember what you want to remember – I said that the English have a wonderful saying for us Romans: 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' It took centuries. I hope we can get there in slightly less time. But that's the reality.

“Give the owners time to do what they have in mind. Will they be able to? As a Roma fan – not as a coach or an advisor – I sincerely hope so. Right now I can't ask for... I wanted Kolo Muani, and so did the president. But when we saw... [Ranieri indicates the cost of the deal] we realised it wasn't possible.' It's easy to talk.

“In Florence there's a building with this writing on it which reads: 'It's easier to criticise than to do.' [Former Fiorentina president] Mario Cecchi Gori explained to me that when [Filippo] Brunelleschi was building the dome, people would stand back and observe and say, 'It's not going to say up. It'll come down.' So ok, we can criticise when it's appropriate but we should know what we're talking about. You asked and I answered.”

So why did reports emerge after the Como match suggesting that there was a desire for a revolution?

“I wasn’t told to revolutionise anything and nothing was leaked. Whoever spread that rumour isn’t a friend of ours. Nothing was leaked. Nobody has ever said to me ‘Let’s change this thing or that thing’ because they know this thing and that thing can’t just be changed like that.”

I’d like to ask if, based on the financial situation, the club’s transfer strategy revolves around cutting the wage bill and offloading some high earners?

“If possible, yes. If we want to sign a player for €100 million and get the Friedkins to spend that kind of money, we need to cut the wage bill. As for Financial Fair Play, based on how it’s been explained to me – and I can only relay this based on my understanding – we can sign a player for €100 million, but then we also have to pay his wages. If you sign someone for €100 million, he won’t settle for peanuts. For that kind of signing, the transfer fee would fall outside of Financial Fair Play. The wage bill is within Financial Fair Play and that doesn’t just mean mine but every AS Roma employee’s. You have so many expenses and you can’t spend more than X. Many clubs are beyond that limit in Italy but we have a cap and we can’t go over it. That’s how it is.”

Speaking of signings, how are the new guys settling in, considering they've come from abroad? Why have you not done more in the Italian market?

“Because we have difficulties, that's all. I'm sure the new lads will settle in quickly. Obviously when we're playing two games every week it's not easy to get them to train. I'm talking to them, showing them videos. I'm trying to get them used to the Italian system, to Roma's system. You saw that I threw [Deyne] Rensch straight in. Now we'll see how we can slowly bed in the others.”

Before the Milan game you said you agreed to the new signings. What does that mean? That you didn't choose them? And if so, who chose them besides the sporting director? The new coach?

“[Ranieri laughs] My goodness, the new coach again... I'm going to end up playing a joke on you lot, you know that? Anyway, we have a fantastic scouting network that covers the world. I said what I think the future holds for us, in terms of players. And I was given four or five of those that were doable – because anyone can sign [Kyle] Walker. We could have signed him ourselves. But we didn't have the money. We couldn't go beyond that limit. And even more importantly, because of the [Matthew] Ryan situation we couldn't sign a non-EU player at the time.

“That's how we have to sail our ship through the storm. We're solid though. Because the Friedkins are solid. I give my opinion on all of the players that are put to me and I say, 'I think this one is the best suited to my needs based on what we can spend.' I gave my ok to all the players who joined. But always within the options we could choose from.”

So the new coach is not involved?

“No, I make the choices for him. I must have spoken to him, right? [laughs]

The Roma fans are really helping the team – not just at the Olimpico but away too.

“That's true. When they sing 'Roma, Roma, Roma' it's wonderful. They make themselves heard away from home and it gives me goose bumps when I hear it.”

I guess you won't have that effect on Sunday as residents of Lazio and Friuli are not allowed to attend the game.

“Yes, that's a shame.”

Is there not enough time to appeal the decision? And what do you make of it?

“No, it won't be possible to make an appeal. Sadly. It's a problem. I read that it's not directly for us but for the possibility of fans crossing paths. Everyone has their job to do and tries to do it the best they can – I'm talking about the police and the authorities. I don't want to go into matters I don't know everything about. I wouldn't want to say something silly.”

Have you come up with an explanation for the team's approach in Milan? Was it a mental shortcoming?

“No, it can't be a mental shortcoming because you're playing against Milan and it's in the cup. No, we had difficulties – I don't know if you heard [Christian] Panucci's assessment, which I agreed with – in getting the ball up to the forwards or [Paulo] Dybala quickly, which is something we did well against Eintracht and Napoli. When we couldn't find that outlet, they were able to pen us in again. Then they got the opener and we had to chase the game.

“I congratulated the lads again today for a simple reason: that you fight till the very end, regardless of the result. When Milan went 3-1 up, did we give up? I don't think so. Some of the lads played below their usual level but they're not electric vehicles you can recharge and they go again at the same speed and intensity. But they gave 100% of what they had. And as their coach, I'm happy. Then it's up to me to see, change and say.

“I can tell you now that you won't find [Mats] Hummels or [Leandro] Paredes in the squad for Venezia. I've given them a holiday because those poor lads didn't play much with [Daniele] De Rossi, didn't play much with [Ivan] Juric, and with me they've played loads. They're putting everything into it but they can't maintain the intensity of what they've been giving us. So I told them to take a holiday. It's more useful for them to recharge their batteries right now than to stay here with me and come to Venice, so I said, go with your families. That's how it is. So you know they won't be in the matchday squad. Not because they played badly, but because they've given absolutely everything they had to give.”

Regardless of the team's commitment, which you assure us of and couldn't do otherwise...

“But you saw it yourselves. This is not a team that loses heart and stops trying. Of course they make mistakes because sometimes you do. How many mistakes have you made in your articles?"

I made a mistake in choosing my job! Anyway, regardless of the team's commitment, do you get the impression that sometimes some of the players might think the team's problems are behind you now? That the healing process is over? That they might be on the same level as their opponents mentally and so perhaps try to play a sort of game this still slightly ill Roma side may not be capable of yet?

“Look at Napoli last year and Napoli this year. It can happen in sport. One year goes great and another goes badly. Did you see the changes Milan made? They brought on their first-choice players. Let's hold this Roma team tight and love Roma – with actions more than words.

“Do you remember my first interview? I'm old, or let's say a different kind of young. When I was a kid and I was in the Curva Sud, people said, 'You don't question Roma, you love Roma.' Now I'm not saying it's 50% but I think we've moved to 70-30. Question first and then love. That's not nice.

“The lads are giving their all, everything they have. And I want them to do that. I've already warned them. Now we have to go to Venezia, a game you rate as easy as they're second from bottom, but look at Venezia's last nine games. Watch them as I did. They've won, drawn and lost. The ones they drew or lost by a single goal: 2-2 against Juve, 1-0 against Inter and they had the chance to equalise in the 93rd minute. They lost their last game 3-2 in Udine, clawing their way back to 2-2 from 2-0 down. So they're a team we're going to have to battle with from the first minute to the last.

“They have the smallest pitch in Serie A. The ball will always be out of play. The game will be shorter than other games. Look at the stats: against Napoli we played 57 minutes. In their last few games they've played 47 minutes – ten minutes less.

“I want to see the real Roma there. That's what I want there. I'm saying that now. I wasn't worried about Eintracht, Napoli or Milan but I'm worried about this one. This is where I want to see Roma. I want to see our character. Then may or may not lose, because in sport you can lose, but there's losing and there's losing.”

What have you made of the job that Eusebio Di Francesco has done at Venezia? Do you think he’s been a bit unlucky?

“Yes, he’s been unlucky because he is a great coach and you’ve all got to know him. He’s a fantastic tactician. Venezia play good football, just like all of his teams. He’ll try to keep them up. They’ve brought in nine players. They’re trying to do everything possible to beat the drop. I hope they do, but after Sunday, of course.”

What’s the situation with Paredes’ contract? Could any of the new signings be involved away to Venezia?

“Some of them could be in the squad for the trip to Venice. There are talks regarding Paredes’ contract. I’ve read in the press that an option could have been triggered, but I haven’t had the chance to look into it properly as I’ve been following other things. I was sure he’d stay here when there was talk about Boca Juniors.”

Is Abraham a player who could have a future at Roma?

“I believe there was already an honourable agreement between Roma and Milan in place. He’s one of the players who was on a high salary, so he might help us reduce that figure, which would, in turn, allow us to operate [in the transfer market].”