Ranieri and Az: “Nice test, but Roma are there”

The beginning is of those who touch. And they stay. Because Claudio Ranieri has a big heart and his first thought is to dedicate it to something other than the Giallorossi universe. “A year ago Gigi Riva, a true Cagliari native, passed away, I want to dedicate a thought and a memory to him. Gigi is someone who lives inside us just like back then.” Then, obviously, you think of something else. And, that is, above all against Az Alkmaar, tomorrow afternoon’s opponent.

the wait

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Ranieri knows that to hope to reach the playoffs again, there is only one result tomorrow, victory. “I’m very curious to see what game we’ll play – says the Roma coach – I respect Az a lot, they’re a team that goes into transition, presses, plays forward as I like. It will be a good test, also because they are the youngest team in Holland and one of the youngest in Europe. But I’m also confident, because I know that the team is doing well.” So the objective is three points, also to break the taboo of 17 away games without a win. “To win for the team I will make it clear that we are facing an opponent who hasn’t lost for two months. But I always and only think about the first game. And, therefore, about the match against Az, then we will also think about the match against Udinese. Europe? Everyone wants to play there and we want to be there next year too. To do this we know we have to do something incredible, we have to put up brick by brick. It will be a difficult match against Az, against a strong opponent. But I don’t make promises that I can’t keep, my recipe in general is always just work and sacrifice.”

the individuals

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Then the singles, starting with Pisilli and ending with Rensch and Farioli. “Pisilli struck me because he is a force of nature, someone who never gives up, who knows how to fight. And I like players who know how to fight like crazy.” Then the latest arrival, Rensch: “A young and very interesting player, with a good break-in time. A player that we needed and that we were looking for, who can give us a hand in the defensive phase.” Finally Farioli, one of those that Roma is monitoring closely for the future and who has already had contact with the club. “He is a young coach, who is doing well in a demanding and difficult place like Amsterdam, where they always ask a lot of Ajax”. Cryptic closing: “And he will wait…”.