[LaVecchiaSignora]

Delio Rossi faces Lazio’s critics and his former club Atalanta on Sunday. “Here everyone always sees the glass half empty.”

The Biancocelesti are unbeaten in official competition this season, but three draws in Serie A and a 1-1 at Olympiacos on Tuesday do not constitute the best start.


“We have already achieved an important objective by going through the preliminary round to reach the Champions League, but here everyone always sees the glass half empty,” sighed the Coach.


“I don’t think I need to vary my tactics to a more classic 4-4-2. The rhombus midfield is not the problem. We are not physically at our peak, so we’re not as sharp as we could be.”


It is a special occasion for Rossi, who almost managed an incredible comeback from relegation in 2004-05, the campaign that earned him the call from Lazio.


“Atalanta are a good squad who are in good physical shape, but I hope that tomorrow we will return to winning ways. It is not a game like any other for me, but we have to do well.”


He is not the only ‘old boy’ at the Stadio Azzurri d’Italia, as Simone Inzaghi and Manuel Belleri are now wearing the blue and black stripes.


“I am glad they have gone to a club where they can find more space and there’s nothing to say they can’t return one day.”


Marco Ballotta became the oldest player ever in the history of the Champions League this week when he played in Athens at the age of 43 years and 168 days, but he won’t be their first choice in Serie A.


“Fernando Muslera will play on Sunday. I am convinced that the goalkeeper represents 50 per cent of the defence,” noted Rossi.


“Ballotta knows our defence more, but considering all the games that await us this season, a little bit of rotation is needed.”

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