Roma struggles in Serie A have led to the hiring of Claudio Ranieri as coach
Rome: Roma is having a tough time in Serie A this season. They have only earned thirteen points from thirteen games, marking their worst start in over ten years. This poor performance led to the dismissal of coach Ivan Juric. Now, local hero Claudio Ranieri has stepped in to lead the team for the rest of the season. Fans hope he can turn things around, especially after his first game against Napoli, where the team seemed more solid defensively.
Ranieri is known for his strong defensive style, which helped Leicester City win the Premier League in 2016. His approach focuses on building a solid defense, which could benefit Roma. Despite the team’s current struggles, Ranieri has a reputation for making teams hard to beat. In Leicester’s title-winning season, they conceded less than a goal per game and lost only three matches out of thirty-eight.
The decision to bring Ranieri back to Roma seems to be driven by emotion. The club hopes to reconnect with its fans at the Stadio Olimpico. While his style may not always be exciting, it could provide a strong defensive base for the team. In his first match, Ranieri changed the formation from Juric’s 3-4-2-1 to his preferred 4-4-1-1, a setup he has used successfully in the past.
Ranieri kept the same defenders from Juric’s lineup but added Stephan El Shaarawy to the right side. He also brought in star player Paulo Dybala in the second half, placing him in a role similar to Riyad Mahrez’s at Leicester. Bryan Cristante played a key role in midfield, while Lorenzo Pellegrini took on a different position as a number ten, showing Ranieri’s focus on defense.
In attack, Artem Dovbyk was more of a target man, unlike the speedy strikers Ranieri had at Leicester. Under Juric, Roma managed only four clean sheets in thirteen games. However, against Napoli, they limited their opponents to just two shots on target, although one resulted in a goal from Romelu Lukaku, leading to a 1-0 loss.
Despite having only one shot on target themselves, Roma’s defensive effort was notable. They allowed Napoli to control 63% of the ball, indicating a clear strategy from Ranieri. Fans are hopeful that this focus on defense will lead to better results, even if it means sacrificing some attacking flair.
Image Credit: www.yahoo.com
Image Credit: www.yahoo.com