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Lazio's plea for patience Thursday 20 September, 2007

Lazio defender Emilson Cribari has called for calm despite the Biancocelesti’s winless start to the season.

The capital club have only managed three draws in Serie A so far and a gutsy 1-1 with Greek champions Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday.

After a disappointing summer transfer campaign, there are already mutterings of disquiet at the Stadio Olimpico ahead of Delio Rossi’s men’s trip to Atalanta next weekend, but Cribari claims there is no need to panic.

“We are very calm,” he asserted. “We haven’t won yet, but we haven’t lost either. The important thing is that the team is physically fit.

“In attack we are strong and if we continue to focus at the back the results will come. The midfielders need to take more long shots and us defenders can add a few goals.”

The Olympiacos clash was the ex-Empoli man’s European debut and it was clearly a moving experience.

“During the Champions League theme I got goose bumps and was emotional,” he stated. “But when we got on the pitch we were concentrated and put in a good performance for a valuable point.”

President Claudio Lotito was also proud to see his side in action in Europe’s showpiece event and believes the Aquile acquitted themselves well.

“I was certainly very proud to hear the Champions League music,” he grinned. “The team has shown its strong character and a never-say-die spirit.

“We had more chances, so a win would not have been undeserved. We paid the price for a few players’ lack of fitness.

“I think we have proved that we have the squad to manage in Serie A and Europe. We are unbeaten so far and at full fitness we will see wonderful results.”

channel4.com - Football Italia