Ranieri's pre-Torino presser  

This is what the coach had to say...

First of all, I wanted to thank you for your clear, direct communication this season.

 “Thank you. You've respected me and I always respect those who respect me. We all have a role to play. I do my job and you do yours. From where I'm sitting, your job is harder than mine, but perhaps you think the same about my job. Filling pages of the newspaper every day or making statements like you do is difficult. I wouldn't be able to do it, to be honest.”

How do you feel about this game from an emotional point of view? It's the last of many things. And how are the players looking?

 “Regarding my emotional state, as I've always said, I just focus on the match. In the days afterwards I might think about what happened. But I would like to thank the Roma fans. I didn't expect anything like the other evening. I expected a banner, a 'Thanks, coach', or something. I didn't expect a whole tifo like that. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. 

 “As I've always said to the lads, we must give our all until the last second of every game. We've secured European football but we don't know which competition we'll be in yet. We must leave the pitch knowing we put absolutely everything into it. At the end of the day, a single moment can win or lose you the match, but if we give it our all I'm happy. It's great to see that on the last day of the season, the title, European places and relegation spots are all still to be decided. It's been a fascinating season for all Italian fans.”

Have you thought about 11 pm tomorrow? And what will you do afterwards? Also, what mark would you give this season?

 “I never give out marks – they're for people who criticise. I know I've given all of myself, as I have at every club I've worked at. Sometimes it went well and sometimes it didn't. No one wins all the time. You have to experience disappointment to be able to appreciate success. 

 “As for 11 pm tomorrow, let's see when it comes to it. Let me get there. I'm not very good at putting my feelings into words. Last year at Cagliari I knew it was all over and I was happy and relaxed. I had a nice quiet summer with my usual friends. I'll think about that – relaxing with friends.”

What was the atmosphere like in Trigoria today? I also wanted to ask about Artem Dovbyk's fitness and if Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini will travel with you tomorrow.

 “I think everyone will be coming, although I haven't asked them yet. Dovbyk trained separately and has been looked at by doctors, physios and fitness coaches. I'm hoping they'll let him train with me in our final session tomorrow.  

 “We had a good session today, as usual. The lads put a lot of effort into it and that's reassuring. We know we're playing a team who want to do well and end the season on a high. Torino have some excellent players and a very good young coach. He'll be keen to do well too. We're going to have to really sweat for it, just like everyone else who is playing for something.”

Looking back at the match against Milan and the substitutions they made, it occurred to me that Roma have a lot of work to do to build a squad of that level, even though Roma won the game. Or am I exaggerating?

 “No, I'd agree with you fully on that. But I'd like to say – as I did to my players before the Milan game – that I think Milan have the most technically gifted team in Italy. They have the best players. But they don't always play the entire match as a team. They have top players but they blow hot and cold. 

 “We've built a team and in a team game like football that's the most important thing. We'll try to improve. We've said lots of times that we want to build a great Roma team so that our fans can dream. We started badly but they gave us support, love and the desire to get where we perhaps didn't think we could at the start. That's what we must keep doing.”

Can you say that whoever replaces you in the dugout will get on as well as you have with the club and fans?

 “I'm not thinking about how he will be welcomed. I'm thinking about the fans being sad when he leaves. That's what I'd like... Well, you complimented me on my communication skills. What did  you expect? [laughs]”

How big an impact would getting into the Champions League have on the club's future?

 “Only questions about the game. Let's focus on playing first. A wise coach once said, 'Don't count  your chickens before they hatch.' Well, we have half a dozen eggs that could all potentially hatch. Let's focus on hatching and then we'll see.”

In that interview you gave to La Repubblica, were you joking about the new coach? We don't deserve another 40 days like this...

 “[Laughing] I was joking.”

Did you pick your three starting midfielders against Milan based on the players' form or another reason?

 “No, it's always a cocktail of many different feelings. Us coaches go on feeling – well, I do at least. On what the players tell me with their attitude on the pitch. I've always thought about picking a team that could win the game for me. And as I always say to them: we play with 16 men. We have five subs, so make sure you're ready. 

 “Losing Dybala was obviously a big blow because he was a focal point for us and he could hold the ball up. When we were in a tight spot, the others would give him the ball. And he'd get us out of it. Without him we've struggled a little. That's why I tried to make up for his absence by making different choices. They may have seemed strange but I like studying opponents and trying to make it tough for them, as I'm sure others do with us. That's why I need to keep everyone on their toes and try to win the match. Without thinking about things like 'This player hasn't played for three games so I should pick him.' I've always tried to go with the players who showed me certain things in training. I start the week with one team in mind and by the end I have another, maybe with two or three different players. Sometimes one. When I tell you I decide on Saturday evening or Sunday, it's true.”

Besides getting the fans back on side since you joined in November, have you hit all the targets you had in mind as a coach or management figure?

 “I'm very happy with what I've managed to do in this time. Very pleased. There's still a lot of work to do – lots to work on together. But I like the path we're on.”

You brought Leandro Paredes back into the team against Milan. Could we see him again in that position against Torino? And about his celebration when he kissed his shirt: do you think that could mean something when it comes to his future?

 “His future will depend on two people. Him and the next coach. Telling you if he’s going to play would mean giving an advantage to the opposition coach. They’re a very good team and they man-mark you. I have to give it some thought.”

How are you expecting Torino to play? And have you thought of a gift for the team if you qualify for the Champions League?

 “Me, a gift? They are the ones that should get me a gift… [laughs]. As I said, Torino are a great team. In the past five home matches they’ve had two victories, two draws and one loss. We’ll have to fight to the end. This is what I said to the team. And I think the message was clear because I’ve always told them the truth, for every match. Torino will give it all they’ve got. They’re a team that by their very nature always fight. I’ve always liked them. I used to play against [Paolo] Pulici and [Francesco] Graziani and they were amazing to watch, as was Claudio Sala. Even though we would lose as I played for Catanzaro.”

Regardless of the competition, can we expect a major overhaul in the summer or will Roma be starting again with this team?

 “We’ll see. I don’t think we can make an overhaul, nor is it necessary. This team, as you guys have written, has earned the most points in the second part of the season, which means they deserve to be trusted. But of course there are improvements to be made."