Antonio Conte Supports Claudio Ranieri's Return To Roma Ahead Of Napoli Clash

Antonio Conte is optimistic about Claudio Ranieri's return to management with Roma, but he hopes for success only after their Serie A match this weekend. Ranieri, who started his playing career at Roma, has come out of retirement to manage the team once more. This marks his third tenure with the club, which is currently 12th in the league standings.

Ranieri's first challenge will be against Napoli, the league leaders. Conte is eager to reunite with the 73-year-old manager. "I am pleased to see Claudio," Conte stated before Sunday's game. "I have great esteem for him and there is also friendship." He acknowledged that it would be a difficult match for both teams.

Ranieri replaces Ivan Juric as Roma's manager, bringing potential changes that could disrupt Conte's game strategy. The 'new manager bounce' effect could pose a threat to his plans. "When a team changes coach there is an important input on a nervous level," Conte explained.

The managerial change adds uncertainty for Conte. With Juric, they had a clear understanding of what to expect from Roma. Now, it's less predictable how the team will approach the game under Ranieri's leadership.

Conte recently experienced a rare home defeat in Serie A against Atalanta (3-0). This loss ended a streak of 21 consecutive home wins in the league. The last time he faced two straight home losses was in November 2009 when managing Atalanta against Juventus and Roma.

Despite Napoli leading the table, Conte remains cautious about the title race. With only two points separating the top six clubs like Atalanta, Fiorentina and Lazio after just 12 games, he notes that no single team has pulled ahead significantly yet.

"We are doing well," Conte mentioned regarding his team's performance so far. However, he acknowledged that other teams are also performing strongly and expressed surprise at seeing certain teams high up in the standings.

The upcoming match against Napoli presents both challenges and opportunities for Conte and his team as they navigate this competitive season.