Gianluca Mancini on Ranieri’s impact: “He relaxed me.” | OneFootball

Roma defender Gianluca Mancini spoke to Sky Sport on the eve of the return leg of the Europa League playoffs with Porto.

The Italian centreback discussed the match-up as well as Claudio Ranieri’s impact since his appointment.

When asked about the difference of playing more central or on the right, Mancini said, “I am used to playing these roles in defense, I have already done them several times and I like them.”

“Last year I also played as a left centreback. It certainly changes something, because playing on the center-right allows you to be more aggressive, advance more with the ball, try some individual plays and maybe even some crosses.”

“As a central defender, however, you have to pay more attention to the position, check any spaces left open and read the center forward’s movements. Sometimes you can anticipate him, other times not. I think you need to be even more careful, because a mistake can open the field for the attacker to exploit.”

“Tomorrow’s match is very important, because it would allow us to advance to the round of 16. In recent years, in this period, we have often played decisive challenges. They have been difficult matches, just like tomorrow’s, but we are ready and prepared to face them in the best way and continue our journey.”

On the moment of tension with the referee in the first leg, Mancini noted, “There was a brief confrontation between me and the referee, but I had seen two fouls and two yellow cards, both called against us. At that moment, I spontaneously went to the referee and asked for respect for Roma, because we represent a team supported by fantastic fans, and also for ourselves, who are on the pitch fighting.”

“My gesture was not intended to be a lack of respect towards the referee, and he understood that. It was simply a spontaneous reaction.”

On Ranieri’s impact: “Before the coach arrived, in the two weeks leading up to his appointment, if you remember well – and I remember well – the results were not coming. For us footballers it is difficult when the victories do not arrive, because we gave our all on the pitch during training, but the results continued to be lacking.”

“The environment was not the best, and this made me feel sad, melancholic, almost with a knot in my stomach, both at Trigoria and in my private life, with my family. I do not know how to explain it, but when I saw the coach arrive and open that door, my body reacted on its own.”

“He has a way of speaking, of explaining things and of making you understand every situation calmly. Of course, when he gets angry, he gets angry, but in that moment that serenity was needed to restore balance to a strong group, which really needed it.”