Gasperini: “Roma difficult, but he will give me strength”. Ranieri jokes: “Unpleasant but ambitious, we need him”

ROME — "He was unpleasant, I told him. To Roma fans and to me much more. But he was chosen because I am convinced that Roma needs a strong personality, a coach who is never satisfied, who is always angry, who wants to improve the team, the individual." Claudio Ranieri says it with a smile, but the handover is anything but a formality. Gian Piero Gasperini takes up the legacy and immediately tries to change the air: "Everyone continues to warn me about Roma, about how difficult it is to work here and how many dangers there are. This must be a strength. I only see a lot of enthusiasm and desire for football."

Ranieri: “Gasperini choice made with the Friedkins”

The press conference marking the start of the new cycle brings together two different ways of living the bench, but united by a common belief: Roma can be built to remain permanently at the top. Ranieri, who led the team until the end of the season, explains how it all began: «You called me a liar when I told you that there was nothing yet. I had asked for Gian Piero's availability and he said "why not?", but from there to saying that it was done was a long way off. The Friedkins made the choice. He has always done well, he manages to change the physiognomy of an athlete. He knows the difficulties we will encounter in these two markets. If I had stayed, we would have lost a year of time for construction. He was called to grow something that will bear abundant fruit».

Gasperini: “We know about the Fpf, but Roma will return to the top”

Gasperini talks about the first contacts: «Claudio described the reality and situation to me in detail. Then I met the owners: passion, enthusiasm, great presence in Rome. They have ambitious projects, they struggled to realize them. They saw in me, through Claudio, the possibility of building something strong. We all know about the limitations of financial fair play, but it is a solid company that wants to invest well, in a sustainable way. They want to take Rome to the top». The pressure from the environment? For Gasperini it is a push, not a limit. «They talk to me about the radio, about pressure... I see desire, passion. If in six years there have been difficulties, then something can be corrected. If Naples has won two championships , if Paris has become the capital of football , then Rome can too. You just have to build in the right way. Everyone wants the best for Rome, if we row in the same direction we are all stronger».

Gasperini: “Ranieri has done something extraordinary”

The first objective is the pitch. "The feeling with the fans is there, but the results count. Claudio has done something extraordinary in the last 22-23 days. The team has shown that it can do a lot. The group has given strong signals, even those who were on the bench. It is the basis on which to work. In Rome you can't make plans ten years from now, you have to be fast and concrete. Work to build a team that knows how to win but also lose in the right way, with identity".

Dybala at the heart of Gasperini's Roma

Dybala remains central, but not untouchable: "I hope he's okay. If he's in condition he's a great player. But there are no unsuitable players, they just have to be okay. We want a team where everyone pushes beyond personalities. Then with the staff we work to raise the technical, tactical and character level. If the individuals grow, the whole team grows."

Gasperini: “We must develop strong young players”

On the forwards: « Milito and Retegui were strong. My merit was to bring out the best. My teams are prolific, it depends on how you interpret the game. Now we start from what we have, then the market will tell us how to proceed». And speaking of the market: «We need emerging players, who can become international. We cannot take established champions, we have to build them. Everyone must aim to have the best season of their career. Defending what you have is no longer enough». Ranieri clarifies what priorities were asked of the Grugliasco coach: «We asked Gasperini to be Gasperini. The fans will identify with his game. We want a team that fights, that has a good run in the championship and in Europe. Even accepting some bitter pills. But always angry».

Gasperini: “I expect something new from the market”

On the names of the historic group ( Dybala , Cristante, Pellegrini, Paredes ), Gasp responds as follows: «We start from what we have, but they won't always be the same. I expect something different to come from the market, new figures that raise the level. Pellegrini is injured, but the same goes for everyone: we need to think about having the best season. Soulé is an offensive player: he has to make assists, goals, take penalties. Today what matters is being a team. PSG has reached goals without Messi and Neymar . Napoli has won as a team. Roma must take that path».

Ranieri on the no to the national team and on the new sporting director of Roma

Gasp then dwells on the rumors of Juventus trying to steal the coach from Roma: «It's true, there was an approach. But I chose Rome because I believe it's the right path, even with the risks. It's what I was looking for, I have the strong conviction that I made the right choice». Ranieri, after having filed the Italy case («I respect the national team, but I'm from Roma») closes by talking about Svilar («I only called the boy, I told him that there is an ambitious project. The rest is Ghisolfi's») and the FFP limitations: «We're close, not long now. From 2026 we'll be able to work more calmly. The owners can't put in money, otherwise they would. We have to grit our teeth. Today we compete with clubs that buy boys for 60 million at 18 years old. We have to be ready with ideas». Ideas that, after the farewell of the ds Florent Ghisolfi a few hours before the press conference, will most likely have to find one between Frederic Massara and Nicolas Burdisso . The new Roma has officially started. With the smiling and determined face of its new coach.