Since Claudio Ranieri took over the coaching reins at AS Roma again, Mats Hummels has also become an important part of the team. The 73-year-old thinks highly of his center back, which he has once again demonstrated in an interview.
After weeks of waiting on the bench, Mats Hummels has been part of Roma’s starting lineup for some time now. Since Claudio Ranieri took over as head coach, to be precise. Under his predecessor, Ivan Juric, Hummels was left out after signing in early September – when Daniele de Rossi was still in charge. However, he has been in the starting lineup for his last four league appearances.
Ranieri explained his preference for the German center back in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport: “Hummels is a world champion. In football, there is no successful system – the players are successful. Therefore, it was logical for me to rebuild the team with three world champions like Hummels, Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes.”
The fact that Hummels also showed his ability to assert himself in difficult times at the start of the season has been well received by Ranieri. “Hummels has stayed afloat thanks to his great professionalism,” said the 73-year-old. “He gave 100 percent, even when the coach didn’t consider him.“ Hummels thus serves as a role model: ‘If the young professionals are intelligent, they appreciate that and learn from it.’
”Indispensable” Hummels should extend
Just over two weeks after Hummels signed for Roma, then head coach de Rossi was forced out. Hummels only made one appearance under Juric – in a 5-1 defeat in Florence, in which the 36-year-old even scored an own goal after coming on as a substitute.
The sacking of Juric and the arrival of Ranieri in mid-November was like a fresh start for Hummels at Roma, who has been in the starting lineup since matchday 14 and only missed the game in Como (0-2) due to illness. Ranieri also relies on his experienced center back in the Europa League, who secured a last-minute point for Roma against Tottenham and was also in the starting lineup for the 3-0 win against Sporting Braga.
Accordingly, Ranieri is also planning for the long term with the “indispensable” Hummels, whose contract – just like those of Dybala and Paredes – expires at the end of the season. “Of course” Roma is interested in extending the contract, the coach said at a recent press conference, without further comment. “Quite simply. Let’s not beat around the bush.”
Roma’s next league game is the Derby della Capitale against Lazio next Sunday. Hummels will surely be back in the lineup for that one too.