Roma crisis exaggerated: Ranieri

News of Roma’s demise this season was greatly exaggerated according to manager Claudio Ranieri.

Ranieri’s side moved into third on the Serie A table after a 2-0 win over Udinese on Sunday, with Roma now unbeaten in their last seven matches.

There were calls for Ranieri to be sacked after Roma’s slow start, but the Italian said that was never going to happen.

“The side was not in crisis. They were going through a difficult moment, but then they got back on their feet,” Ranieri said.

“We know what we have to do and where we want to get to. We said that from the start of the season.”

French international Jeremy Menez scored a wonder goal to put Roma in front at the Stadio Olimpico, and Ranieri was full of praise for the young playmaker.

“Menez is a diamond in the rough and slowly he is getting polished,” Ranieri said.

“He can still improve a great deal, but he’s on the right track. Today we also had that little bit of luck you need in any win, because we knew Udinese were in good shape.”

“Both sides were coming off a positive run of results. In the early stages they gave us quite a few concerns, but then Menez scored that great goal and we started to take the initiative.”

Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin was unhappy with his side’s performance despite their misfortune during the match, with the visitors hitting the woodwork three times and having a late goal incorrectly ruled out for offside.

“Quite frankly I expected something better from my team,” said Guidolin.

“I know we are capable of so much more. Even if the game was very balanced and the deadlock broken by a technically wonderful goal, we still could’ve done more.”

“Did the midweek games influence our performance? That should not be an excuse and I’m not looking for excuses. It does have an effect, as some of our players don’t get to train with us all week and arrive at the last minute.”

“I am starting to realise that I have to be more wary of evaluating internationals after these games and not just those who crossed oceans.”