Ranieri: No Roma coaching candidate ‘stepped back’ because of Champions League | OneFootball

Roma boss Claudio Ranieri insists no coaching candidate stepped back because of a possible lack of Champions League football and confirms he’ll remain at the club with a different role next season.

Roma visit Atalanta on Monday in a key game for the top four in Serie A. Ranieri previewed the game at a pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Ranieri met Roma owner Dan Friedkin this week, and the first question was about the summit with the American entrepreneur.

Ranieri opens up about meeting with Roma owner

“It was a very good meeting. He praised the team. He wants to do well, and he’s made it clear since he arrived,” Ranieri said via Sky Sport Italia.

“That’s all I can tell you, but I’d be grateful to talk about Atalanta.”

Despite Ranieri’s request, there were obviously more questions about the next Roma coach and the club’s summer transfer strategies.

“The work to bring Roma back to the top began the day I took charge. I said there would be two transfer windows during which we’d suffer,” the coach continued.

“I’ve read that some coaches step back because Roma won’t be in the Champions League, but it doesn’t seem this way. This is all I can say.”

Ranieri confirmed he’d remain at the club as an advisor to the president at the end of the current campaign, something the club had already announced when the 73-year-old was appointed in November.

epa12073558 Roma’s coach Claudio Ranieri gestures during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina, in Rome, Italy, 04 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI

“He spoke about this. The President is really happy with the work that has been done,” Ranieri said.

“I’ll have my say, and this is important.”

Friedkin, however, didn’t reveal when he’d appoint Ranieri’s successor.

“He didn’t tell me because I didn’t ask. I don’t ask questions that are not important to me,” noted the Roma boss.

Lastly, he managed to talk about the game and Roma’s fight for a Champions League spot. The Giallorossi are level on 63 points with Lazio and Juventus.

Ranieri on Atalanta and Champions League race

“The extraordinary success was to give hope to the Giallorossi fans. They saw that we want to fight until the end, and I told the boys we must have no regrets,” he said.

“We must give our best and face these games in the best possible way.

“People forget what [Atalanta President] Percassi said during Gasperini’s first four years: ‘We need to avoid relegation.’ He helped the fans understand they were building for the future,” Ranieri continued.

“I feel like saying: ‘Give us your trust and we’ll build a very good Roma.’ That’s the plan. The President wants to bring Roma to a stable place in the Champions League. Did he make mistakes? It’s not for me to say; the results speak. He’s making up for them now. Ghisolfi and I are here now. It’s a tough job, but as a Romanista, it’s a beautiful thing to do.”

Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini is injured and has been ruled out of Monday’s game.

“I’m really sorry he won’t be available. I’ll miss him a lot as he’s an important arrow in my quiver. What I can do for now is to wish him good luck and a speedy recovery,” Ranieri concluded.