Tenses change.
What do you think the rule might be?
John (Direct speech): " I am really hungry"
Amy (Reported speech): John said that he was really hungry.
John (Direct): "I am meeting Paul for dinner"
Amy (Reported): John said he was meeting Paul for dinner.
John (Direct): "I need something to eat now"
Amy (Reported): John said that he needed something to eat then.