Ranieri's pre-match comments: I expect a strong reaction from the squad

The game at the Stadio Olimpico gets underway at 15:00 local time.

Here's what Ranieri had to say...

How are the players looking after the international break?

“It's good to have a full dressing room again, although obviously some of them were tired and had massages or treatment. I'll see how they get on in training today but the main thing is they're all raring to go.”

How do you feel about meeting Carlo Ancelotti again on Sunday?

“It's always a pleasure to see Carlo again. He was a great player and he's a great coach. I'm happy I'll get to meet him tomorrow – and I hope to be smiling after the game too.”

You used some very strong words after the defeat to SPAL and that can sometimes backfire. What are you expecting from the team?

“If I used strong words, it's because I expect a strong reaction from the team. As a coach, you always do things for a reason. What I expect from the Roma players, who are very good players, is a big show of character.”

Robin Olsen seems to be a struggling a bit lately. Is his place in doubt?

“No. I think Robin is an excellent goalkeeper. I was keeping tabs on him even before he joined Roma. He has my full confidence.”

Are Aleksandar Kolarov and Daniele De Rossi nearly ready to return?

“They're top players and if I had them both in the team, it would be massive for me and the fans. Slowly but surely they're all getting back to their best but they're not quite there yet. I have to assess all our options. I don't like to risk losing a player for three matches just so he can play one. That's always been my philosophy and I'll weigh everything up carefully.”

Looking at the position you're in at the moment, would qualifying for the Champions League be one of the best achievements of your career? Do you think fear any fallout after the dressing-room disagreement?

“I believe this team has the potential to fight for a place in the Champions League. There are sides above us who are going strong but I hope my players can respond to any adversity. What happened between [Stephan] El Shaarawy and [Edin] Dzeko is the normal sort of thing that happens in every family. It's all sorted now and that's the main thing.”

Have you ever thought, 'Why did I come back?'

“No, never. Because I've always kept a close eye on Roma, even from afar. I knew what I was coming into and I've got stuck into the job. Hopefully it will all pay off.”

How important are the fans going to be over these next two games, which are just four days apart?

“The Roma fans' relationship with the team is vital. It always has been and always will be. I've always thought that. Players, coaches and presidents may change but the fans are always there. They want to see the players give everything they have and that's the same thing I ask of my players.

"The fans can give us an extra gear by giving us confidence in our ability. When you make a mistake you need encouragement because if you make a mistake and the crowd complains it knocks you back. I hope the fans understand the moment we're in and get behind us and show us their love.”

Why did you take off El Shaarawy at half time against SPAL?

“It was a tactical decision. The lads are used to playing 4-3-3 and I'd asked the wide players to do something a bit different in a 4-4-2. It was a tactical change at the start of the second half, unrelated to the disagreement they had.”

Is Kostas Manolas close to returning?

“I have a number of players who are close to returning. Kostas will train with us today. They all want to play and show they're available in this tough spell so that's great news. It's up to me to make the calls. He's told me he wants to play but I want to assess everything carefully.”

How important will it be to close Napoli down quickly?

“Napoli are a different team under Ancelotti – they get the ball forward much more quickly. They'll look to play lots of through balls and we'll need to get our lines right. We need to be sensible and press at the right time.”

Are there any positives the fans can look at going into the run-in?

“Roma fans are always positive – that's also why they get so upset. We have to look at the games we have left to play and there are several head-to-head matches which can help us finish in a good position. Our fans need to have faith and hopefully we'll be able to achieve the target we all want to achieve.”

Why do you hold your pre-match press conference two days before the game instead of one?

“A lot goes into preparing for a match. Having worked abroad I've come to realise that it's much better to have the conference two days before so you can focus all your attention on the match itself the day before.”