Claudio Ranieri has revealed the reasoning behind his significant squad rotation for Roma’s match against Empoli. He emphasized that Empoli is expected to play with aggression, speed, and power.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 17.00 GMT at the Castellani Computer Gross Arena.
Roma has been in impressive form recently, securing victories in eight out of their last eleven matches across all competitions. Their only defeat during this period was against Milan in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
This run includes a dramatic victory against Athletic Club in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg. However, with the second leg approaching in Bilbao on Thursday, Ranieri opted to rest key players like Paulo Dybala and Zeki Celik.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Ranieri stated his focus is solely on the present, aiming for continuous improvement in each training session and game.
Ranieri Prioritizes One Game at a Time
Ranieri confirmed he made nine changes to the starting lineup from the Athletic Club game, acknowledging it’s an unusually high number. He explained that the players exerted considerable physical and mental energy on Thursday. While recognizing potential challenges due to unfamiliarity among the rotated players, he expressed confidence in their abilities.
However, Ranieri clarified that these changes do not indicate a prioritization of the Europa League over Serie A, nor does he underestimate Empoli.
He reiterated his philosophy of focusing on each match individually, avoiding the temptation to favor one competition over another. He stressed that every game in the second half of the season is challenging, regardless of the opponent. He wants Roma to be aggressive, quick in their play, utilize vertical passes, and deliver a powerful performance, mirroring what he anticipates from Empoli.
Regarding Roma’s potential Europa League chances after defeating Athletic Club, considered strong contenders, Ranieri downplayed expectations of reaching the final. He emphasized the immediate focus is on the Empoli game before shifting attention to the Bilbao match. He acknowledged the intense atmosphere in Spanish football, anticipating a great game in Bilbao, but for now, his concentration remains on Empoli.