Ranieri backs side to respond

Claudio Ranieri is backing his Roma side to recover from their 3-1 defeat to Palermo when they take on Chievo on Saturday.

Roma went seven league games unbeaten to force their way into Serie A title contention, steadying their campaign after a slow start to the season.

But their revival hit trouble in the form of defeat away to Palermo last out and Ranieri acknowledges his side will be hard pressed to repeat last season’s second-place finish.

“We lack the continuity of last year. Another miracle will be difficult. Now we must roll up our sleeves,” Ranieri said.

Despite Roma’s inconsistency in the early part of the campaign, Ranieri maintains the team has the mental fortitude to return to winning ways at Chievo’s Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

“This team has fallen on many occasions, but it has always got back up again,” Ranieri said.

“Now there is Chievo and we must show that we have learnt the lesson of Palermo.”

“Tomorrow I expect a big game from the team. The lads are good. They aren’t finished.”

Some have pointed to off-field distractions as the reason for Roma’s difficulties this season, with the club in the hands of UniCredit Bank after long-term owners, the Sensi family, ran into financial trouble.

Ranieri refutes the suggestion, maintaining the ownership turmoil has had little bearing on the playing squad.

“The (ownership) situation isn’t creating any problems. We have never missed Rosella Sensi’s guidance. We know that we must respond on the pitch,” he said.