“Ranieri Optimistic Despite Opening Roma Tenure with Defeat to Napoli”
Claudio Ranieri began his third stint as AS Roma manager with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Napoli in Serie A on Sunday. Despite the result, Ranieri, who came out of retirement to take over his boyhood club, praised his team’s effort and determination against the league leaders.
Romelu Lukaku, a former Roma player, scored the only goal of the match, sealing Napoli’s victory. Ranieri acknowledged the challenges he faces, with Roma currently in 12th place and trailing Napoli by 16 points, but remained positive about the road ahead.
“We have some problems, and that’s why I was called,” Ranieri said. “But the hunger and determination were there. We made mistakes, which we’ll address during the week, but the attitude to get back on track is what matters.”
A Challenging Task Ahead
Ranieri, 73, has agreed to manage the team until the end of the season after Roma’s second managerial dismissal this campaign. He highlighted the importance of focusing on progress rather than dwelling on setbacks.
“We need to react rather than feel sorry for ourselves,” he stated. “The players showed better character in the second half, and that’s the mentality we need going forward.”
Upcoming Fixtures and Priorities
Roma’s next test will be a Europa League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, followed by a home game against Atalanta in Serie A on December 2. With injuries affecting the squad, Ranieri is hopeful that key players like Lucas Vazquez and Aurelien Tchouameni will recover in time for these crucial matches.
Ranieri emphasized that the focus remains on steady improvement, team unity, and rediscovering the winning mentality. Despite the uphill task, he believes Roma can regain form and finish the season on a high note.
