Ranieri let down by fixture logjam

Roma manager Claudio Ranieri said he was disappointed with the rescheduling of his side’s Serie A clash with Bologna.

The Italian manager spoke out after the Italian Football Federation ruled that their rescheduled game against Bologna will be played later this month and not in March, meaning a busier run of fixtures for the Romans as they battle against the best of Europe.

The original fixture was cancelled due to snow.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that it complicates our plans. I wished they could understand that we’re competing to qualify for the Champions League and the Europa League and we always try to improve our ranking in Europe, but this hasn’t been taken into consideration. No problem, we’ll be playing this match,” Ranieri said.

“Well, it was up to Bologna to decide. We’ve asked a favour, which has not been possible. That’s fine. I think the decision depended on Bologna which has preferred to play on that day.”

“They will always have important substitutions, whereas I’m missing important substitutions in the attack department.”

“We’re all aware that there are great difficulties in the Italian championship and we always try to be up to the situation. We’re human, not robot. In football there are results which can deeply change a championship and the forecasts.”