Ranieri prepares for last Roma home game: ‘I hope I have time to reflect’

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Lorenzo Bettoni | Last updated May 16, 2025 9:18 AM ET

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri is preparing for his last home game in charge of the Giallorossi: ‘The difference is that we are Romans and Roma fans. Maybe another coach doesn’t feel what we feel.’

Roma host Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday in Ranieri’s 500th Serie A appearance as a coach and his last one at home with the Giallorossi.

“The difference is that we are Romans and Roma fans. Maybe another coach doesn’t feel what we feel,” he said at a press conference via Sky Sport.

“I remember when I was a kid in the youth sector, my heart would pound just seeing the players on the pitch. Climbing those steps is something beyond words. Seeing the stadium full means the team is trying to give its best. The fans are with you even in tough times, and it’s beautiful.”

Roma fans have surely prepared a special welcome for their coach, but Ranieri doesn’t know any details.

“I don’t know. If they did it, it’s right that they didn’t tell me. I’ve reached 500 in Serie A and I am happy. I did a thousand in London, but I’ll look back on those things in about a month. I hope I have time to reflect on what I’ve done,” he said.

Ranieri also explained why Alexis Saelemaekers has lost his starting spot in recent games and commented again on the controversial penalty incident from the previous match against Atalanta.

“I stand by my opinion. I’m not judging whether it was a penalty or not,” he said.

“I am talking about the consistency of the application of the VAR protocol. A clear and obvious error. There have been similar mistakes in the league and in Champions League, where VAR didn’t intervene. It’s just about this: knowing what to tell my players. It’s fair that the chief of the referee federation defends the ref.”

As for Saelemaekers, “Soulé adapted well on that side and Saelemaekers formed an incredible combination with Dybala,” noted Ranieri.

“After Paulo got injured, I noticed he wasn’t the same anymore, so I tried to make a change, but Alexis remains an important player.”