If Roma's 3-2 loss at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League wasn't enough, it blew a 3-0 lead at Genoa on Sunday and lost, 4-3. The collapse cost veteran coach Claudio Ranieri, who resigned after the Serie A game, which extended Roma's winless streak to five games.

“I have always thought about the good of Roma,” he was quoted as saying by ANSA news service. “After a game like that today, I think it is right to give a signal. At the final whistle I went into the locker room to thank the team and I have decided to resign.”

Ranieri's departure came a day after about 200 Roma fans protested at training, throwing flares and firecrackers at the gates before being police repelled them. The loss left Roma eighth in Serie A.

The club is in limbo while the sale of the club to the American consortium led by Thomas DiBenedetto is finalized. Bank UniCredit, which looks to recoup its losses, has run the team in recent months. It blocked any move by Ranieri to sign reinforcements during the January transfer window.