Rizzitelli: Players Lack Personality, Friedkin Can't Continue Like This

Former Roma player Ruggiero Rizzitelli has criticized the current squad's mentality and called on ownership to take stronger control of the club. Speaking to Il Tempo, Rizzitelli highlighted Roma's struggles against top teams, arguing that despite having quality players, the squad lacks the character and personality needed to perform when it matters. He pointed specifically to the draw with Juventus as a missed opportunity that could have lifted the team's confidence heading into crucial matches.

Rizzitelli expressed disappointment with recent public comments from manager Claudio Ranieri, though acknowledged his contributions to the club. He identified a recurring pattern under the Friedkin era, citing previous tensions between Pinto and Mourinho, then Souloukou and De Rossi, and now between Ranieri and potential successor Gasperini. Rizzitelli argued that the ownership must be more present and decisive, as the absence of strong leadership allows internal conflicts to emerge. He stressed that football is different from other businesses because it operates on emotional connections with supporters, and emphasized that players must accept responsibility rather than blame always falling on managers.

Rizzitelli advocated for continuity with Gasperini going forward, suggesting that starting fresh with another manager would be counterproductive since Gasperini has become familiar with the environment. He noted that Gasperini's reputation for being difficult was already known, comparing him to José Mourinho, who succeeded despite having a similarly challenging personality. Rizzitelli also called for a squad overhaul after years of inconsistency, warning that the upcoming centenary season risks being compromised by these ongoing structural issues.