No more media for Roma – Sensi

(GSM) – Roma president Rosella Sensi has banned manager Claudio Ranieri and his players from talking to the media and insisted the team must prove their point on the pitch.

The club currently stand in a dismal 19th place in the Serie A, having collected only five points from six matches this season and Sensi wants the team to focus solely on doing their ‘work’.

“I think that in moments of difficulty, especially in sport, work is the best medicine,” declared Sensi in a long official statement.

“We must all give an answer with actions and not words. Those come through the training ground, sweat in the gym, eating healthily and good behaviour.

“In sport the team is what counts and that is why we’ll all come out of this situation together. There is silence in the media, but everyone can express themselves on Saturday October 16 against Genoa.”

Meanwhile Sensi has urged the fans to show support for Ranieri and his squad and expect the players to maintain their calm in the media.

“I urge the fans to gather round Ranieri and the players. We need their support more than ever, that same push that in the past took this team to incredible heights.

“I don’t like hearing from Gianni Rivera that my players have started speaking out against Ranieri. I don’t like reading that Totti can even think he’s a problem.

“The truth is that ‘spoken football’ affects our work and we must all learn to be professional when it comes to living with tension, moods and provocation, just as we do with success and enthusiasm. We need a balance and respect for our roles.

“I tell Totti that he is a symbol of Roma and will continue to be on the field of play. As a captain, he sets a positive example for his teammates and the many youngsters who look up to him.

“Totti will, hopefully as late as possible, also become a director, so I expect a decisive contribution from him in the present and the future.”

Sensi was fined by the Disciplinary Commission after her criticism of refereeing during Roma’s 2-1 defeat at Brescia.

“I tried to defend Roma and Italian football from what I considered to be an obvious injustice that everybody saw. Now I expect a professional response from Roma, in line with what was asked of us by the Federation, Lega Calcio and Referees’ Association.

“I am certain that working in silence, side by side, we will get back to where we belong.”