AS ROMA NEWS – Gianluca Mancini gave an interview to the Cronache di Spogliatoio microphones during the ‘Fontana di Trevi’ broadcast. These are the words of the Giallorossi defender about the captain’s armband, Roma’s moment and the chase for the Champions zone that has begun since Ranieri has been on the bench.
Do you feel you are the captain of Roma?
“I would like to emphasize that I am the vice-captain, the captain is my friend Lorenzo.”
How do you see Roma’s current standings?
“From that derby to today few people believed. We knew what we were doing from the beginning of Ranieri. With the work and tranquility he brought, we realized that we could retake that group.”
When you were in the relegation zone, did you think the cups could be a lifeline again?
“We cared about the cups having made in the last five years at least the semifinals. Too bad it didn’t go well this year. It hurt to see us in those positions in the league. The commitment in training, even when things were going badly, was there and we were sure that things would work out. Inside the locker room we reasoned game by game. Seeing Roma in those positions hurt us. In the cup we gave our best, but a refereeing decision changed the outcome of the match. We always want to give our best in all competitions. In Serie A we haven’t done anything yet.”
Can you tell us a prophecy of Ranieri’s?
“When he opened the locker room door, he conveyed a sense of relaxation. We were living badly with the results thing. Then he explained to us how he worked. In November he told us right from the start that good horses are seen at the end. He didn’t know us, but he had seen a few games, and saying that charged us. It let us know that he believed in us. Now we are focused for the end of the championship.”
How many messages did you leave on Ranieri’s car to convince him to stay?
“It is a particular issue, but the coach has always been clear with us and he has also done so with journalists. Such a figure is important for us, but for the whole Roma environment. He will also be so in another capacity. He will know how to guide us and give us advice. I consider it an important choice for the future as well.”
Do you feel the love of the fans?
“I felt the love of the fans from the very beginning, even the first year when I played in the midfield for emergency. I am crazy about this fan base. On the field I sometimes transform because the adrenaline goes beyond that, but in the last period with De Rossi and Ranieri I worked on it. I am calmer in my reactions. The fans are proud of me, but I am not just the darling. They make you feel this love right from the start.”
What is the sentence you said to Dovbyk?
“Artem is a golden boy. We know what his family is going through and it affects him. Then on the field you have to be good at forgetting. I push him because he’s a four-door closet, when I fight with him in training I’m afraid. On Saturday I charged him at the end of the first half. I told him, ‘either you score a goal or you get a yellow for a shove.’ And the goal was born that way, Baschirotto also is big, but he put the competitive nastiness into it.”
Have you ever thought where you could be with Ranieri from before?
“With ifs and buts I don’t get along. We had three different championships, although De Rossi was not given time. Even with Ranieri we didn’t start very well. But we felt there was a different air. There were some of our faults because we were on the field.”
Is the goal the Champions League?
“The schedule is bad, but it was bad before. It’s not easy to win on any field. Everywhere you go there are difficulties. Winning at Parma or Lecce is no easier than winning with the big ones. Now we will face teams that have the same points. Needless to go around, we are all there. We think match by match. These are good matches that we play with great charge. You have to prepare as best you can and think about Juve, then Lazio. Every Sunday you know that points make a difference.”
Article MANCINI: “I crazy about these fans. The comeback? From that derby to today few believed in it. Dovbyk a closet, in training I’m afraid” comes from Giallorossi.net, exclusive news, news and soccer market.
