[Jager]

Rossi's Champions countdown Saturday 11 August, 2007

Lazio Coach Delio Rossi is beginning to feel the pressure ahead of their Champions League preliminary round tie with Dinamo Bucharest.

“We will need a cool head and a burning heart. Where our legs won’t carry us, we need our minds to take us past those obstacles.”

The Biancocelesti have impressed in pre-season friendlies, including a 2-0 win over West Ham United and a 5-2 victory at Southampton, but struggled during the Amsterdam Tournament.

“In any other situation we would be the favourites, but Dinamo are at a more advanced stage of their pre-season training right now.”

The first leg is at the Stadio Olimpico on August 14 with the decider in Romania on August 28.

The Romanian League has already started and last night Dinamo won 3-0 away to Ceahlaul Piatra-Neamt.

“Dinamo have technique, good physical strength and are very organised,” continued Rossi.

“If that wasn’t the case, they would not have won the Romanian Championship ahead of Steaua Bucharest.”

Lazio are the only Italian club in the preliminary round, as Inter, Roma and holders Milan enter the group phase automatically.

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