Ranieri: ‘Fabregas will have a great career, Roma did well’ for 2-1 victory

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 05: Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Coppa Italia Quarter Final match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 05, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Claudio Ranieri praises Como coach Cesc Fabregas, assuring ‘he will have a great career’ and they can be like Parma in the 1990s, but Roma ‘did well to get a tough game back on track.’

The Giallorossi had struggled in the first half and went into the break a goal down when Lucas Da Cunha ran onto a Maxi Perrone through ball.

However, his substitutes made all the difference with Alexis Saelemaekers scoring the equaliser, then Artem Dovbyk turning it around following Marc Kempf’s red card for the 2-1 victory.

Ranieri knew Como would be tough to Roma

“I had already warned everything this would be tough, because I know what Cesc Fabregas is like as a coach,” Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia.

“This is a great team that is working to complete itself, I am convinced that Como will in future be like Parma were in the 1990s. I told Fabregas he will have a great career as a coach, just like his career as a player.

“We struggled, we wanted to press high in the first half, but they were making one or two touch passes, so we couldn’t close them down. I therefore told the lads to stay solid, we continued to press and they scored against us.

“We did well to get a very tough game back on track.”

It was put to Ranieri that his substitutions were once again decisive, especially on the second goal when three different players who had come off the bench combined to create the chance.

“Dovbyk only returned to training yesterday, Saelemaekers was unwell during the week and I couldn’t start him,” explained the coach.

“I was going to take Dybala off, but then Celik got hurt, so I couldn’t introduce Baldanzi. It was all a series of circumstances, but I know that I have the players who can make a difference.”

Roma are showing great mental strength now compared to when Ranieri first arrived, regularly completing comebacks and now unbeaten in Serie A since their last meeting with Como in December.

“Winning gives you self-confidence and a feeling of certainty. Now everyone helps each other out, the players communicate more and that helps. I am very happy with the team,” added Ranieri.

The search is on for a new coach for next season and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said this week that Ranieri is doing a perfectly good job at Roma without him.

“Oh leave me alone! How am I supposed to answer these questions. I had read that,” laughed Ranieri when pressed on whether he’ll postpone retirement for a bit longer.