Stephan El Shaarawy was pleased with the “heart, determination and grit” Roma showed to beat Empoli, but Claudio Ranieri adopted tactics “we’d never used.”

The veteran tactician took over from sacked Eusebio Di Francesco on Friday and made his debut with a 2-1 win.

Stephan El Shaarawy was pleased with the “heart, determination and grit” Roma showed to beat Empoli, but Claudio Ranieri adopted tactics “we’d never used.”

The veteran tactician took over from sacked Eusebio Di Francesco on Friday and made his debut with a 2-1 win.

“It was a struggle, we brought home a very difficult game, but the three points are what mattered. We gave heart, determination, grit, everything the Coach asked for,” El Shaarawy told Sky Sport Italia.

“It was an important goal to give me consistency, but above all for the team. We are all happy and satisfied with the result.

“The Coach asked us to play a system we have never used over the last two years. We adapted and did some things well, others not so much, especially in possession.

“We’ve got to take it one game at a time with this same tenacity.”

The Little Pharaoh was handed the captain’s armband after Alessandro Florenzi’s red card.

“It was an honour, even if only for 10 minutes, but I am proud to mark it with a victory.”

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