Lazio coach tries to calm hardcore Ultras

[Jager]

Rossi talks to tifosi Thursday 14 February, 2008


Lazio tactician Delio Rossi met with fans today to try and assuage recent tensions between the supporters and the team.

The Biancocelesti have looked a shadow of the side that finished last term in third place and they are in danger of being sucked into the relegation quicksand.

Fans have recently threatened to boycott the Stadio Olimpico and have protested against the struggling Aquile.

At today’s meeting they promised their continued support on the condition that Rossi’s side don’t turn in a performance as week as last weekend’s 1-0 defeat against Empoli.

While the discussions were amicable, Rossi reacted with frustration to calls for midfielder Cristian Ledesma to be dropped.

“It’s useless criticising individuals,” the Rimini-born Coach scowled. “I make my choices and you have to point the finger at me.

“All I can say is that this team always give 100 per cent. The Empoli game was an accident on the road that I hope won’t be repeated.”

Star striker Tommaso Rocchi was also present and summed up the situation concisely.

“We have always had support and we have always recognised it,” the former Empoli man said. “It’s up to us to respond to it on the pitch.”

During today’s training session, a Lazio XI saw off Eccellenza side Battipagliese 15-0 in a friendly game.

Rolando Bianchi played from the start, but Goran Pandev sat out due to a back problem and Romanian new boy Stefan Radu opted out to avoid aggravating a calf complaint.

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