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Fabio Cannavaro praised Lazio for their performance, but admits “lazy” Real Madrid have much to learn about team spirit and defending as a unit.

“Lazio played a great game and we didn’t do too well, as we should not have left so much space and were lucky they didn’t make the most of that,” he said after the 2-2 draw at the Olimpico.

“I have been playing in Spain for a year and there are differences. You defend less as a unit and more as individuals, so you get a lot of one-against-one or even two-against-one. This is their mentality and that is tough to change, even though we tried last season.”

Fabio Capello won the Liga title with Real, but was fired because his style of play was not considered to be entertaining enough.

Cannavaro was one of the few imports requested by Capello that remained at the club and he revealed the difficulties he has to deal with in Madrid.

“I always tell them to help out the defence, as the important thing in a team is balance and everyone fighting together,” he told Sky Italia television.

“I can’t ask Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul to work in defence, but I can tell them to adjust their position slightly during the difficult times when we are under pressure.

“When you are on the field with attacking midfielders like Wesley Sneijder, Guti and Arjen Robben, they get lazy and focus more on the attack rather than coming back to help out. We do discuss these things.”

Gabriel Heinze was used as Cannavaro’s central defensive partner in that Champions League encounter.

“We have had injuries to Pepe and Metzelder, while we needed a bit more attacking flair down the right with Sergio Ramos, so Heinze was chosen to partner me in the centre. We have a large squad and the Coach likes to change regularly so everyone gets a rest.”

Real Madrid now share top spot in Group C with Olympiacos, who won 3-1 away to Werder Bremen, on four points. Lazio have two points, Werder are yet to get off the mark.

channel4.com - Football Italia