Ranieri praises Roma players after draw with Spurs, surprised by their reaction

Rome: After the match in London, coach Claudio Ranieri shared his thoughts on Roma’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham. He was pleased with how his players performed and felt they showed great spirit during the game.

In his interview with Sky Sport, Ranieri said, “The boys played a great game. I didn’t expect this kind of reaction.” He was happy to see the team bounce back after a disappointing performance against Napoli.

Ranieri mentioned that he was not satisfied with the previous game, where the team only focused on defending. He emphasized that he prefers a more attacking style of play. “Today, however, I was clear. We mustn’t sit back, we mustn’t be afraid,” he stated.

He encouraged the players to counterattack when Spurs pressed them. “That’s what the fans like,” he added. The coach was pleased that the players understood his message and executed it well during the match.

Ranieri also highlighted that the result was not the most important thing. He wanted the team to show they still knew how to play football. “I told them that the performance was too important,” he explained.

Regarding player Mats Hummels, Ranieri praised his experience and leadership on the field. He noted that Hummels brought confidence to the team, even though he is not yet in top shape. “I am convinced that he can do very well in Roma’s defense,” he said.

Ranieri made a decision to substitute Paulo Dybala during the match. He explained that Dybala had not trained much recently, and he did not want to risk his health. “I liked him a lot and he even came close to scoring,” he mentioned, showing his appreciation for Dybala’s efforts.

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