Destiny is in our own hands, says Ranieri

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri insisted his team need four more points to ensure they progress to the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

And the former Chelsea, Valencia and Juventus boss said they had put matters into their own hands by winning away to Basel last time out.

Roma had a disastrous start to their Group E campaign when they lost two of their first three matches, including a 3-1 home defeat to Basel.

But by winning 3-2 away to the Swiss outfit last time out, they put themselves in pole position to qualify for the second round, giving them a three point advantage over Basel and Romanians CFR Cluj.

Bayern have already booked their place in the last 16 and Roma can join them if they win on Tuesday and the other game ends in a draw.

And Ranieri believes the victory in Switzerland was crucial.

“We put our destiny back in our own hands by winning at Basel but we still need another four points,” he said from Roma’s training base at Trigoria, just outside Rome.

And although Bayern are already through, Ranieri doesn’t expect them to be taking things easy, particularly given they can ensure they win the group by earning a point.

“I don’t expect them to be demobilised, they’re a team with many great players,” he added before turning his attention to Bayern’s Dutch coach Louis van Gaal.

“He’s serious, determined, his teams are always well prepared, they’re very well organised, they hold the ball, they’re a great team and it will be a great match.”

When the teams met in Munich in September, Bayern ran out 2-0 winners but Ranieri insists things will be different this time.

“It was a very tactical match where we didn’t manage to contain them or to counter as we wanted to,” he said.

“But contrary to when we played them before, my lads are in good form at the moment.

“We’re not quite as fluid as I’d like us to be but I’m intrigued to see how my team plays against Bayern.”

One of the keys to Roma’s form will be how 23-year-old French winger Jeremy Menez performs.

The wiry former Sochaux and Monaco player has started to come into his own this season after joining Roma in 2008.

And Ranieri says that now that Menez has started to understand the tactical side of the game, he is more able to use his natural talent.

“When he understood, he found some consistency, but he was always very good,” he said.

“What I told him was for his own good and when he understood, he took a step forward.

“Now he feels loved by his team-mates and by the fans and that’s important for a sensitive young lad like him. He can go a long way.”

Menez agrees that his improvement has come from listening to his coach.

“The gaffer spoke to me last year and since then everything has been clear, I know what he expects of me and I know I’m able to do that,” he said.

“I did a lot of work on the defensive side of the game last year and that’s helped.

“But I still have to work physically, I need to run a lot. This season I feel better prepared to defend and attack thanks to the work I did.

“There’s still work to do, I’m not at 100 percent of my capabilities.

“I’m 23 and that’s why I say I can progress. I’m not a child but I can improve on every aspect of my game.”