Ranieri: ‘Le Fee understood what I want at Roma’ | OneFootball

Claudio Ranieri explains that Enzo Le Fée ‘has understood what I want’ from the Roma midfield and why Paulo Dybala is again used as a False 9 against Como.

It kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia at 17.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi seem to be finding their feet under Ranieri, their fourth coach of 2024, after back-to-back victories over Lecce in Serie A and SC Braga in the Europa League.

Ranieri outlines Roma changes

AS Roma’s Alexis Saelemaekers jubilates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match AS Roma vs US Lecce at the Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, 07 December 2024. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MEO

The surprise is a start for Enzo Le Fée alongside Manu Koné in an all-French midfield.

“We are playing three games a week, so it seemed right to play Le Fée. He did very well for those few minutes against Braga and I think he has now understood what it is that I want,” Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia.

Zeki Celik is also chosen in the back three rather than Gianluca Mancini, while Bryan Cristante is injured and Leandro Paredes has flu symptoms.

“Mancini told me he was tired, so I decided to rest him and he’ll be fresh for the next match in Serie A.”

With Artem Dovbyk still not fully fit after both flu symptoms and a knee issue, Dybala is again used as a False 9, but Stephan El Shaarawy and Alexis Saelemaekers in support.

“It is a bit of everything behind these decisions. Dovbyk is not at 100 per cent and hasn’t been training regularly, we’ve been doing well the last couple of games, so we’re sticking with it.”

Roma have not won any of their last 14 away fixtures in all competition and Ranieri warns they cannot allow that to continue.

“I think we will see two teams today who really want to go for the victory. I saw the statistics, Roma have not won away since April, so now it’s time we put words aside and start to talk with our actions.”