Ranieri: ‘Roma want the Champions League, Malen found right coach’
Roma director Claudio Ranieri admits they ‘want to get into the Champions League’ and Donyell Malen has found ‘the right coach’ to flourish, as he reunites with Jamie Vardy.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.
This is a big opportunity for the Giallorossi to increase their advantage from the chasing pack in fourth place, as Juventus lost 2-0 to Como on Saturday and Napoli fell 2-1 to Atalanta this afternoon.
Ranieri balances Roma ambition with calm
“Last season I picked up 46 points in the second half of the campaign and finished one point off the Champions League places,” former coach Ranieri told DAZN Italia.
“It therefore seemed logical for me not to pile too many expectations onto the new coach, but naturally we all want to get into the Champions League.
“The Friedkin family want to win the league, so we chose a coach who knows how to build teams with young players mixed in with more experienced ones.”
Donyell Malen has made a huge impact since arriving from Aston Villa, on loan with an option to buy, so is that down to the quality of the player or the difference between Serie A and the Premier League?
“A bit of both. He arrived at the right moment, with the right coach, but it’s also true that these are two very different leagues,” noted Ranieri.
“The Premier League can buy players worth €60m and leave them on the bench, you cannot compete with them on a financial level.
“Malen had only brief appearances there, not much consistency in the line-up, so he didn’t find the kind of fluidity he is enjoying with us.
“We are keeping hold of Malen, because he is doing very well and we hope he will continue like this.”
Ranieri famously won the Premier League with Vardy’s Leicester City, but the 39-year-old striker is only on the Cremonese bench this evening.
“I have magnificent memories of that time, because the team and Vardy did not expect him to score so many goals. It was truly an exhilarating year.
“We haven’t met up since then, so it is nice to see him here today.”
Injuries are piling up for Roma, who are without Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson and Stephan El Shaarawy.
Wesley is not at 100 per cent either, but still plays, while Manu Koné returns in midfield.