Claudio Ranieri insists Lazio will be ‘strong and alive’ in the Derby della Capitale on Sunday and argues that Roma’s future will depend on the ‘ownership and the new coach.’
The Giallorossi meet Lazio in a crucial Derby della Capitale on Sunday. Raneiri previewed the game at a pre-match press conference on Friday, as usual, two days before kick-off.
“Everyone is available,” the Roma boss said via TMW.
“I expect the Lazio we all know. Strong and alive with good players and a collective style of play. I saw their last game, and when you go to places with that kind of cold and that pitch, you suffer because you are not used to it. I believe Lazio can overturn the result in the second leg.”
Lazio lost 2-0 away at Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday night and returned to the capital early on Friday morning. Does this mean Roma are favourites against their city rivals?
“We’ve also made these sorts of trips, getting home at 3 or 4 in the morning, but I didn’t say anything,” argued Ranieri.
“I don’t see Lazio going through a tough time. Otherwise, you don’t go to Bergamo and play like they did.
“Since I arrived, I’ve always set up a team that has tried to win. I’ll do the same the day after tomorrow,” the Roma coach continued.
“It doesn’t mean we’ll win, but it means we’ll fight as we did against Juventus. We were good at making them play the way we wanted; that’s a fact. Then we grew in the game and managed to score. I don’t make promises, but I like to work.”
Lorenzo Pellegrini surprisingly started in the first-leg derby in January and had an immediate impact by scoring an early opener. Does Ranieri see the same spark in the Italian midfielder?
“If I tell you he has that spark, you’ll put him in the [probable] starting XI,” Ranieri replied.
“So I’ll stay quiet and make my decision.”
Patrick Vieira was the latest candidate mentioned by Italian media as Ranieri’s possible replacement in 2025-26.
“I won’t talk about it, I’ve already said it,” Ranieri commented.
The Italian tactician will leave Roma at the end of the season and contribute to finding the ideal replacement.
“As I said when I arrived, Rome wasn’t built in a day—that’s an English saying,” he said.
“Surely, bringing Roma back to the Champions League won’t take a century. We’re doing our best to get closer. Then, it will depend on the ownership and the new coach to keep building on the president’s dream.
“Considering the difficulties of the January transfer window, we made some good choices, between UEFA ...
