Ranieri issues Udinese warning

Claudio Ranieri has warned his Roma players that Udinese will be no pushovers when two of Serie A’s most improved sides meet on Saturday.

Roma have recovered from the poor start to the season that almost cost Ranieri his job and, after going six league matches unbeaten, are now being talked about as potential Scudetto winners.

Udinese made a similarly slow start, winning none of their first five. But Francesco Guidolin has rallied his troops and they now sit just two points behind sixth-placed Roma.

“Udinese have recovered well from their slow start to the campaign and have some great tools at their disposal,” Ranieri said.

“They have very good forward players that can create a lot of problems for us.”

“Antonio Di Natale is a quick player with great technical ability and he has the quality to make the difference.”

“Floro Flores is also dangerous. This is going to be a difficult game, a test for us. We have to make sure we don’t give Udinese any spaces.”

The latest instalment in the Udinese revival was an impressive 4-0 win at home to Lecce last weekend.

Guidolin believes his players must produce a similar display if they are to gain a positive result at Roma’s Stadio Olimpico.

“We played a great game against Lecce,” Guidolin said.

“My team showed balance at both ends of the pitch. Now we must show the same focus when we face Roma.”