RANIERI'S PRE MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE
Claudio Ranieri faced the media to preview the weekend clash with Cagliari in Serie A TIM. The Giallorossi host the Sardinian side at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening.
"I believe we need to respect all opponents. The lads are working hard and showing professionalism in order to fight for a place in the Champions League. There are lots of teams in the hunt and it would be stupid for us to underestimate this game. Cagliari never give up, they’re having a great end to the season and they have excellent players. [Leonardo] Pavoletti is always the target man for every high ball. We’ll need to show a lot of intelligence and focus.”
On Stephan El Shaarawy who has reached double figures for goals and seems to have found some consistency: “He’s a conscientious lad. He does well in both phases – in defence he’s producing some great diagonals and he’s always reached double figures in terms of goals. He’s made a massive contribution since he joined.”
On Edin Dzeko: “He’s a player that loves getting involved in the play. At San Siro we saw him in his natural habitat: dropping deep and providing a focal point for players. He can play with another player beside him, but they need to understand his play and get forward at the right time.”
Nicolo Zaniolo and Bryan Cristante will be missing on Saturday: “When regulars are missing it’s possible that you lose a bit of fluidity in the play. That said, I hope that whoever comes in works extra hard and that the whole team makes up for the absentees. Coric is a good player. It’s not easy to move country – this is the first time he’s lived away from home – but he has good quality and just needs to adapt to Italian football.”
(Photo Getty Images)
