AS ROMA NEWS – Claudio Ranieri received the prestigious Maestrelli Award, now in its 40th year, and took the opportunity to talk about his Roma team and the moment the team is experiencing. The Giallorossi coach collected the award at the Le Panteraie location in Montecatini Terme, making several statements between memories, ambitions and reflections on the future.
REMEMBRANCE OF MAESTRELLI
Interviewed after the award ceremony, Ranieri expressed great esteem for the coach who made Lazio’s history: “Maestrelli was an extremely fair person, a coach who knew how to amalgamate his champions. Lazio won thanks to the talents they had, but above all thanks to the man who managed to compact them. This is the third time I have won this award and I am very pleased, because we are talking about a unique person in the history of Italian soccer. He was truly a gentleman.”
BETWEEN PRESENT AND FUTURE: “WE MUST CONTINUE WITH LIGHTNESS”
The coach then spoke about his Roma’s journey and the race for the Champions League, a goal that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago: “I cannot say I am surprised, because I am always positive about the work and the group of players I have at my disposal. I found a strong team, but one that had lost self-esteem. My task was to pull it back together and give the boys what they deserved. Now, however, comes the good and the difficult. We have to continue with the lightness that has distinguished us and with that desire that made the fans fall in love with us.”
“DYBALA OUT? WE HAVE TO DO EVEN MORE.”
Ranieri also addressed the absence of Paulo Dybala, who will be forced to stop for at least a month: “We hope the team will compact even more, because without such a champion we have to do something more. It is a heavy absence, but we have to make up for it with teamwork and determination.”
DOVBYK AND THE SUPPORT OF THE GROUP
An important signal came from Artem Dovbyk, who responded on the field to criticism with a convincing performance: “I was glad to see the crowd and his teammates running to hug him after the goal. He is a very shy boy who needs understanding and affection from all of us. He is working hard and the results are showing.”
