New Porto coach Anselmi: ‘I watched Ranieri’s teams when I was 12’ | OneFootball

FC Porto coach Martin Anselmi was trying to pay Claudio Ranieri a compliment ahead of the Europa League play-off with Roma, but it might be taken the wrong way. ‘I remember watching his teams when I was 12.’

The first leg kicks off at the Estadio do Dragao on Thursday at 20.00 GMT.

While 73-year-old Ranieri is one of the veterans of the sport and had effectively retired last year before he was called to help his beloved Giallorossi out of a bind, Anselmi is still 39 years old and one of the youngest coaches in the modern game.

This all makes his statement in today’s press conference a little less insulting and more of a compliment.

“Facing Ranieri is a huge source of pride for me,” said Anselmi.

“I remember watching his teams on TV when I was 12 years old. He is a coach who experienced everything, such an intelligent man and will know how to approach this game. Roma are also Roma, a big club who feel the pressure to win in every stadium, so I am really not expecting a defensive approach at all. They have talented players and we must not give them time on the ball.”

Anselmi excited by Ranieri opportunity

epa11890784 FC Porto’s head coach Martin Anselmi speaks during a press conference at the Olival Training Center, in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, 12 February 2025. FC Porto will face AS Roma in their UEFA Europa League match on 13 February. EPA-EFE/ESTELA SILVA

Anselmi only just took the FC Porto job on January 27, so he had three games so far, one Europa League victory away to Maccabi Tel Aviv and a pair of domestic draws with Rio Ave and Sporting.

Before that, he had been at the helm of Cruz Azul for a year.

“I have seen improvements in every game and hope to see more tomorrow. I am satisfied with the enthusiasm, intensity, energy and desire to learn new things, all elements that are priceless for a coach. We must press high and recover the ball quickly.”

Does Anselmi see Porto or Ranieri’s Roma as the favourites going into this Europa League play-off?

“Anything could happen. The first match can be decisive, because the approach in the second leg is inevitably influenced by the first result. This is why we must win, regardless of whether we are playing at home or away.

“I realise the importance of our opponents, but do not forget the greatness of the jersey that we are wearing. We are at the Do Dragao with our fans. We are Porto and we will aim for victory,” concluded Anselmi.