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De Rossi warns Inter and praises Ranieri

(GSM) - Daniele De Rossi still believes Roma can mount a title challenge despite an eight-point gap with league leaders Internazionale.

Roma are back on track after a struggling start of the season and are unbeaten in seventeen games.

"It's an incredible thing," Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Many factors have tied in together: a maturation of character, serenity, results. It's credit to the group.

"Other teams would have beaten someone up in the dressing room. Instead we always remained united. We are healthy. Sure, Inter are too, but the Champions League could bother them later on.

"The table says that, together with Milan, we are the anti-Inter. Let six or seven games pass and then we'll see. Also because there is still a match to play against them at home."

Asked to explain the difference Claudio Ranieri made since he took over from Luciano Spalletti De Rossi said: "He is an expert. He never gives up the charge.

"Claudio has given us the compactness that we needed. And it's not true that he doesn't love good football. Look at the games against Fiorentina and Genoa.”

Finally, De Rossi outlined his ambitions this season: "I would like to win the Europa League, but our objective now is to finish third and return to the Champions League without the preliminaries.

"It's too important for us as a window and for the club on an economic level."