Ranieri: ‘Big games bring out big players’ and Shomurodov staying at Roma | OneFootball

Claudio Ranieri singled out Mats Hummels for praise after Roma’s 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, revealed why he is keeping Eldor Shomurodov and laughed off Europa League favourite tags.

The Giallorossi were feeling the pressure going into the final matchday and knew only a victory would guarantee their place in the play-offs.

They achieved that against an Eintracht Frankfurt side who had been in second place, thanks to the goals from Angelino and substitute Shomurodov, sealing a 2-0 result at the packed out Stadio Olimpico.

“When these big games come along, you see big players stand up. Some are World Cup winners, they take the team in hand and fire all their teammates up,” Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia.

“We were always focused in defence, we knew the Eintracht Frankfurt counter-attacks were going to be dangerous and had that fear, but we were attentive throughout. The lads moved the ball around quickly, which is what I had asked for, and put it into the box. It was a great victory.”

Among the World Cup winners in the squad was Mats Hummels, who had famously been dropped by predecessor Ivan Juric and was on the verge of leaving the club until Ranieri came in to relaunch his Roma career.

“I just know how I see football, so my decisions seemed perfectly normal to me,” replied Ranieri.

“I admired Hummels as an opponent, he’s an immense player and also a man of great intelligence. He is a reference point for all his teammates, I told him he has to stay, because even if he doesn’t play as much, he needs to guide the others. The way he trains is too important.

“I told the other players today, your body is like your business, look at Hummels and the way he keeps growing it. They all started laughing!”

Ranieri revitalising several Roma players

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 30: Jose Angel Angelino with his teammates of AS Roma celebrate after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between AS Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Olimpico on January 30, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Shomurodov has impressed coming off the bench the last couple of games and ran to celebrate under the Curva Sud when he scored today, so could he stay at Roma or is the Uzbekistan international still heading for Venezia?

“I told him that he’s staying with us. All the lads love him, so do the fans, because he is someone who gives everything. I already worked with him at Cagliari, he is always smiling, even if he also makes me angry at times! I told him, if you leave, who am I going to get cross at?!

“He knows I love him!”

Matias Soule also provided the assist for that Shomurodov goal and is showing some of the skill that earned his transfer to Roma, another aspect where Ranieri’s paternal approach is paying off.

“The lad has quality, I told him from the start. When he has the ball on his feet, I expect something beautiful, a great pass or shot on goal, because he has the talent. I realise the move from Frosinone to Roma is a big one, and that character is the most important thing when making that step, but he is slowly getting into the mechanisms of this team.

“I remain convinced that all the qualities he has not yet been able to show at Roma, he will do before the end of this season. All the lads who come off the bench give their all and that is a great thing for a coach.”

Roma won the Conference League and then reached the Europa League Final, so even though they are going through the play-offs, does Ranieri see them as one of the potential favourites?

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves! I arrived and everyone was afraid of elimination, now people ask if we’re favourites. As I always said, we don’t make promises that we cannot keep, we just take it one step at a time and give it our all, then see what happens.”

It is beyond doubt that Ranieri has turned Roma’s season around after becoming their fourth coach of 2024, so he was asked if this was a gradual, silent process or if there was a visible turning point?

“Silent, I haven’t yet understood it and I want to see it clearly,” he replied.

“We have to continue like this, because when we are humble, we can achieve good things, so let us keep our feet firmly on the ground.”