I am not leaving: AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri

Beleaguered AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri says he has no intention of leaving despite growing dissatisfaction with the team's recent performances.

Roma has lost three major matches in succession - to Inter Milan and Napoli in the Serie A and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League - and about 200 fans protested outside the training center south of the city on Saturday.

Police detained four supporters after paper and smoke bombs were thrown. Earlier in the week fans hung banners outside the training center demanding the teams raises its effort.

"I am not jumping ship from Roma. I am not leaving and I won't be leaving at the end of the season either," Ranieri told reporters. "I like a challenge and have a healthy set of players. (They are) Strong, determined and confident of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

"It is a difficult situation, but in Rome bad things are double what they are elsewhere."

Ranieri has already been criticized this season for indecision over who his main strikers are, and leading scorer Marco Borriello was seen arguing with the coach after he started on the bench against Donetsk.

Roma is eighth in the Serie A standings, six points from the last qualifying spot for the Champions League. On Sunday,Roma is away to Genoa.

"We played badly, especially against Napoli," Ranieri said. "Against Inter and Brescia, though, we were punished for things that suggest this season something isn't right.

"We've had some problems with the balance of the team. Playing with three strikers means we have been vulnerable in other areas and certain teams will make you pay for that."