Soccer: Ranieri takes Roma helm

Rome, September 3 - Claudio Ranieri took over at AS Roma Wednesday after Luciano Spalletti resigned following two opening defeats in Serie A.''The team need a shake-up,'' Ranieri said after his first squad training. The Roman-born coach, 57, said his first priority was to stop the team bleeding goals.''We have to work to let in fewer goals,'' said the former Chelsea and Valencia boss on a 3-2 opening defeat at Genoa and a 3-1 home less to Roma that piled pressure on Spalletti.Ranieri said his philosophy was ''a bit different'' from that of Spalletti, whom he praised for producing ''some of the best soccer in Europe'' over the last four years.''Spalletti's Roma played champagne soccer. My philosophy is a bit different, and I will bring this squad my pragmatism.'' The new coach, who was born in a working-class Rome district and started out as in Roma's youth team 40 years ago, said ''the team has lost confidence in itself and has to react immediately''.But he noted that Roma's stylish soccer had brought it to within a hair of the scudetto two years ago.''As a Roman, I was proud to see it play. I can say I'm coming home with a great desire to do well''. Speaking at the same press conference, Roma President Rosella Sensi accused Spalletti of jumping ship with the club in trouble.''I didn't expect him to abandon ship in this situation,'' she said.Sensi praised Ranieri as a manager ''with great experience and professional (ability)''.''He's a Roman, a Roma fan and I hope he makes the fans happy,'' she added.The president defended Roma's transfer market policy despite criticism from fans.Roma made no big buys but only last-minute moves for veteran Romania goalie Bogdan Lobont, on loan from Dinamo Bucharest, and 19-year-old Italy youth talent Fabio Zamblera, on loan from Newcastle United.''It was a planned transfer campaign. We didn't reach the targets we had set but we brought back key youngsters, although I know the fans aren't happy''.Fans daubed slogans against the president at Roma's training camp Wednesday.Despite her criticism of Spalletti's decision, Sensi thanked the 50-year-old Tuscan for four years of entertaining football, two near-misses in Serie A, two Italian Cups and two Champions League quarter-finals.''We thank him for the emotions,'' she said.Ranieri agreed a two-year contract worth some 3.4 million euros after day-long talks Tuesday reportedly concerning his coaching staff.The Rome native has been linked to the Roma job in the past and was known to be keen to get back on a bench after being sacked, many said unfairly, by Juve last year.Sensi told Wednesday's press conference her late father had wanted to bring Ranieri to the club.Ironically, when Juve sacked Ranieri last season Spalletti was linked to the job before ex-Juve defender Ciro Ferrara was appointed. Spalletti joined Roma from Udinese in 2005 after leading the Udine side to a Champions League berth.Roma broke Serie A's winning streak record in February 2006 but faded to finish outside the top four. However, they qualified for the Champions League because of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal which resulted in the relegation of Juventus and points deductions for AC Milan and Fiorentina. Spalletti won the Italian Cup in 2007 and 2008 and led Roma to consecutive Champions League quarter-finals, where they were knocked out both times by Manchester United.The Giallorossi also ran Inter Milan close for the 2007 and 2008 scudettos.But Roma had a poor year last season, ending sixth after a disastrous start and only qualifying for the Europa League.This season they are propping up the table along with Catania, Chievo and Atalanta while Juve is joint top with Sampdoria, Genoa and Lazio. Ranieri was sacked by Juve two games before the end of the 2008-2009 season after a seven-match winless run. The Turin club still managed to come second, ten points behind Inter Milan. Ranieri led Juve in their first season back to Serie A in 2007 after their Calciopoli-linked relegation. He also managed Chelsea from 2000-2004, Valencia from 2004-2005 and Parma for the latter half of 2007. photo: Ranieri with skipper Francesco Totti