Roma: Claudio Ranieri does not absolve Mats Hummels, but promotes the collective

The words of Claudio Ranieri

It's over in the round of 16 for Roma's Europa League adventure. After winning in extra time in the first leg, the Giallorossi were swept away by Atheltic Bilbao, who were able to take advantage of the naïve sending-off received by Mats Hummels at the 11th minute of the first half, which left the Giallorossi in numerical inferiority for over eighty minutes. Speaking to the microphones of "Sky Sport", Capitolini coach Claudio Ranieri è expressed himself bluntly about the performance of his boys and the episode involving his defender.

"That of Mats è a clear and sharp expulsion. He lost time, he had to turn the ball to the left and he didn't do it. He è a great champion and things like that can happen. Episodes happen, but I cannot reproach the team for anything, as ité è was compact, united and fought to the maximum" began the Roma coach.

"Now you can notò say that this could do more than that. We are a team, you do well or you do badly in 26. My boys gave their best and I am happy with their performance. The goal remains to do our best to bring Roma back to the top. I do not give up and I always want the best, I ask myself and I ask the boys. We did a great performance today in a beautiful and very warm environment, so we should have no regrets. Congratulations to them, but congratulations also to my players, who played a great game" added the l'coach of the capitolini.

"With Valverde we are very good friends and since I had lost his phone number I gave him my business card, becauseé he knows a lot of Spanish players that could interest me. That is whyé I did soì in front of everyone" concluded Claudio Ranieri.