Ranieri: “This run of games will show us who we are”

Claudio Ranieri believes Sampdoria’s clash against Benevento on Sunday lunchtime heralds the start of a decisive run for the Blucerchiati this season.

“We want to show – we must show – that we’re good enough to be in the top half,” said Ranieri, speaking from the press conference room in Bogliasco on Friday. “The next few games will give us a clearer idea of who we are. We’ll need character, determination and conviction at Benevento, against a team that has done well and will do everything they can to cause us problems.”

Ranieri also looked back on the reverse fixture earlier in the season, which saw Samp throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2.

“We let it get away from us from 2-0 up – we’re still not over that” he said. “Benevento will cause us problems, but we’ll try to do the same to bounce back from the Juve defeat at the first time of asking.”