Ranieri's reaction to 4-0 win over Monza

This is what the boss had to say...

The team seem to be playing with no restraints now and whoever comes in plays with confidence. Are those factors making the difference?

“The lads are training well – I've said that since the start. It's a wholesome dressing room. People might say things sometimes to hide problems but here... I'll tell you a story. One of the players asked me for permission to go and see his dad and I said no because we had training the next day. [Paulo] Dybala and [Leandro] Paredes then came and asked me to please give the lad permission to go. That says a lot. How can you say no? When the team decides, I'm happy."

Are Roma the most in-form team among those in the middle-to-top part of the table?

“We're in good shape but every match is a fresh challenge. I'm already thinking about Como now. They beat us in the reverse fixture and they're flying at the moment. They're playing well. And I'm sure that in three or four years' time [Cesc] Fabregas will be up there among the best managers in Europe. My mind has already cancelled this game and I'm thinking about Como.”

What's changed in the attitude and the performances of Matias Soule, Eldor Shomurodov and all the others who are now an asset to your squad?

“I think it depends on the faith I've shown in them. Soule had a superb game against Napoli, doubling up to help his defender and then breaking forward again. I've always believed in him. He joined – I think, or so I read in the papers – because Dybala was supposed to leave, and he scored against my Cagliari team in Frosinone. You can see he's a talented kid. I told him not to worry because the future was in his hands. When you coach you see which players have something special. And he just needed to adjust little by little. Just as [Tommaso] Baldanzi did last season: when he came on he'd do some good things, but he wasn't the player he is this season.“Baldanzi is a little bit further ahead because when he picks up the ball you see the tempo of the game change. Soule needs to do the same. He's got the makings of a top player and he just needs to slowly adapt to Roma's tempo. Which is what he's doing.”

You haven't just sorted out problems. You've made Roma look like Roma once more. You've got the team playing well and picking up results again, with enthusiam, order and calm. Which was the most important aspect and which the most difficult?

“The most important one is making our fans feel proud of these players again. That's what I find most pleasing. Now the fans trust the players again. They know they might make mistakes but they keep pushing them on and helping them when things aren't going well.

What's the difficulty? We have to keep going. Every match is a separate story. I may be repeating myself here but I have so much respect for Como – they're a tough side. We saw how they performed against Napoli, and we've experienced it ourselves too. Then we have the Europa League and another very difficult match. It's a good season. We've got ourselves back on our feet and we have to keep it up. We'll see where we finish up at the end.”