Having returned to Italian Serie A side AS Roma in mid-November for yet another spell as manager, Claudio Ranieri has faced mixed results so far at the Stadio Olimpico.
Eight games into his temporary third spell before he makes the move into the boardroom, he has picked up four victories with three defeats and he has admitted himself that they need a ‘great’ performance in the upcoming San Siro clash with AC Milan if Roma are to come out with the spoils and all three points. Some may pay attention to their good defensive record this year on home soil, and Roma’s struggles to more regularly find the net when they have been on their travels, but the gaffer has insisted that the match ‘prepares itself’ as the players more than know what rides on it.
Ranieri’s comments come into sharp focus when you put them in numbers. Milan have the second best record in the league at home this campaign, whereas his side have only found the net five times in eight away games this season – only Leece with two goals to their name have a worse record on the road.
But he felt that training had been good, and he had been pleased with the efforts and commitment of the players during the build up to the game as he knew the result would ultimately hinge on key moments and the ‘minor details’ that have been addressed in his game plan should help swing those moments their way.
Looking slightly past the return of domestic football and the Milan encounter, Roma have also confirmed that they will be holding an open training session in the New Year as Ranieri wants to strengthen the bond between the club and the supporters for the second half of the campaign given the struggles that they have encountered this year.
With plenty of transfer window rumour mill speculation flowing around the media as it does at this time of year, the gaffer was also happy to briefly comment on the reported futures of key trio Paulo Dybala, Mats Hummels and Leandro Paredes, insisting that there was no point ‘beating around the bush’ and that he 100% wanted to keep all three with him for the future which should be music to the ears of fans.
Until the window opens though, it is all eyes to the final games of the 2024 portion of the campaign and and we see which fans go into the New Year in good spirits.