Ghisolfi: ‘Nobody like Ranieri for Roma, but we respect his decision’ | OneFootball

Roma director Florent Ghisolfi admits he finding a replacement for Claudio Ranieri next season is not going to be easy. ‘Unfortunately, there is nobody else quite like him.’

The clash with Juventus kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi are the form team in Italy right now, on a remarkable run of seven consecutive Serie A victories that put them within three points of fifth-placed Juventus going into this match.

It’s incredible to think when Ranieri took over from Ivan Juric in October, Roma were hovering above the relegation zone.

Ghisolfi and Roma must let Ranieri go

ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 22: Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Parma at Stadio Olimpico on December 22, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“It is a very important match for the table, but also for our fans, because Roma-Juve is always a special match. We want to play for our position and for our supporters, because they suffered this season, they never left our side, so if we can win today, it would be a way of thanking them for their faithfulness,” Ghisolfi told DAZN.

Even the Roma directors surely had no idea that talking Ranieri out of retirement as their third coach of the season after Daniele De Rossi and Juric would lead to such an incredible turnaround.

“We always believe in ourselves when we make our choices, that it will be a good decision. Claudio is doing an incredible job. He has this intelligence that is extraordinary and his rapport with Roma runs deep,” added Ghisolfi.

“If we can find another coach with the same love and respect for the club, that would be perfect. Unfortunately, there is nobody else quite like Ranieri.”

Considering the remarkable results and how much he loves the Giallorossi, could Roma talk Ranieri into postponing his retirement a little longer?

“We must respect his decision and his history. He knows why he made that choice, so it is not right for us to question it.”

Paulo Dybala is out for the rest of the season, with Saud Abdulhamid, Devyne Rensch and the suspended Alexis Saelemaekers also missing out, but Zeki Celik returns from injury.