Ranieri: ‘Clear’ Hummels purple card, ‘I had misplaced Valverde’s quantity’
Claudio Ranieri admits Mats Hummels deserved an early purple card in opposition to Athletic Membership and divulges he gave Ernesto Valverde a be aware together with his cell quantity.
Ranieri’s Roma this night and have been eradicated from the Europa League Spherical of 16.
Hummels obtained a straight purple card after simply 11 minutes. Roma gamers protested on the pitch, and Gianluca Mancini mentioned in a post-match interview that the referee’s determination was too harsh, however Ranieri didn’t share the identical view.
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“Sure, it was a transparent and apparent purple card,” the Italian tactician advised Sky Sport Italia
“He [Hummels] wasted time; he ought to have handed the ball to the left, however he didn’t. It occurs, he’s a terrific champion, but it surely occurs. Regardless of that, I wish to congratulate the crew, because the lads remained united in tough moments and fought to the utmost.”
Athletic Membership scored the opening aim just some seconds earlier than the half-time whistle. So what did Ranieri inform his gamers in the course of the break?
“I advised the boys, ‘Alright, they scored on the finish of the primary half, so we are able to do it on the finish of the match. There’s an entire second half forward, and we now have the possibility to do nicely.’
Ranieri: ‘Clear’ Hummels purple card, I had misplaced Valverde’s quantity
epa11901437 Roma’s coach Claudio Ranieri reacts in the course of the Italian Serie A soccer match Parma Calcio vs AS Roma at Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, 16 February 2025. EPA-EFE/ELISABETTA BARACCHI
“It’s a disgrace as a result of we have been feeling good and have been satisfied we might have a terrific match. These sorts of moments can go by some means, however I can’t blame the boys for something. They performed a improbable sport in a really tough state of affairs.”
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Roma are additionally out of Coppa Italia so they need to intention to complete as excessive as attainable within the Serie A desk.
“Our aim is at all times to offer our greatest,” mentioned Ranieri.
“We’re nonetheless up there with the highest groups, and we are going to do all the things we are able to to take Roma as excessive as attainable. I mentioned it in the beginning of my journey in November, and I hold repeating it: I by no means surrender. I at all times need the most effective, I demand it from myself, and I ask the identical from the gamers.
“Give me a powerful efficiency like right this moment and we’ll haven’t any regrets. We gave our all in an unbelievable and intense environment, identical to within the first leg at our stadium. Congratulations to them, but additionally to my gamers, who put in a terrific efficiency.”
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After the ultimate whistle, the Italian tactician shook fingers together with his counterpart, Valverde, however he additionally gave a be aware to the Athletic Membership coach.
“We’re such good pals that I had truly misplaced his telephone quantity! I advised him, ‘Take this, I would like to speak to you,’ as a result of he is aware of lots of Spanish gamers who may very well be of curiosity to me. That’s why I did it in entrance of everybody,” Ranieri revealed.
Ranieri insisted that regardless of giving his quantity to Valverde, the Athletic Membership coach just isn’t a candidate for the Roma job subsequent season: “You could have already talked about too many,” he advised journalists.