Lazio Press Room:One more year for Ballotta

[dukeofdavinci]

Lazio's plea for patience Thursday 20 September, 2007

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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

[dukeofdavinci]

Lotito lashes out at critics Friday 21 September, 2007

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Lazio President Claudio Lotito is still an unpopular figure despite taking the club from bankruptcy to the Champions League. “What more do you want?”

The businessman bought up the side after the disastrous financial mismanagement of former patron Sergio Cragnotti left them on the brink of collapse and, despite cutting costs and selling star names, has succeeded in getting them back into Europe’s elite.


“I took on a club that was dead and now the fans can see Lazio play Real Madrid in the Champions League,” noted Lotito in reaction to rumours he is ready to sell up.


“It is a complete lie. I have no intention of selling, now or ever. I have torn up the rulebook of Italian football and want to throw the merchants out of the temple.


“Why does everything I do have to be turned into a negative? I took this club to the Champions League by balancing the books. The team is only struggling a little now because the Coach and fitness staff quite rightly prepared them for the long term.”


The Biancocelesti have drawn all three Serie A games this season and fought back for a 1-1 result away to Olympiacos midweek.


“We deserved to win in Athens and certainly were not humiliated. Let us not forget that other Italian clubs lost the opening Champions League tie this week.”


There are problems within the team, though, as Tommaso Rocchi has repeatedly complained at the lack of a pay rise or contract extension.


“Around 50 per cent of the squad has a five-year contract and Lorenzo De Silvestri is the only one whose deal is coming up, but everything has to be faced in the exclusive interests of the club. We have a team capable of holding up against any opponent,” Lotito told ‘Radio Radio.’


The businessman has hit headlines recently with his threats to build a new stadium outside of Rome city centre.


“I am forced to make this project. If in Rome we do not have the chance to make our own arena, what choice do I have? I had provided land for free that was signed over to SS Lazio, not to Lotito, but that still wasn’t enough.”


In Italy all stadiums are owned by the city council and only rented to the clubs on matchday.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Rossi hails welcome win Thursday 27 September, 2007

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Lazio boss Delio Rossi was relieved after his side chalked up their first win of the season against Cagliari, but believes it was well deserved.

After qualifying for the Champions League last year, the Biancocelesti have suffered a sluggish start this time around.

Rossi’s men looked far from a top-four side as they struggled to three draws and were beaten 2-1 by Atalanta last weekend.

However, the timely return to form of striking star Tommaso Rocchi inspired the capital club to a 3-1 win over Cagliari and eased the Aquile up the table.

“Sooner or later we had to win,” Rossi stated in his post-match Press conference.

“We came close in Bergamo even though we lost, but we are growing as a side and injured players are returning.

“Rocchi scores great goals as he makes so many runs and has such technical ability. We don’t score bad goals.”

One man who didn’t look entirely convincing was new goalkeeper Fernando Musiera, who was brought in at the last minute this summer when the deal for talented Argentine Juan Pablo Carrizo fell through.

“It’s too early to judge Musiera,” Rossi insisted. “A goalkeeper needs five or six games before you can rate him.

“Here is here because we couldn’t sign Carrizo and he is very young, but he is playing a vital role.

"Unlike some of my counterparts I think that a goalkeeper is a third of the defence.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Surgery for Lazio man Ledesma Friday 5 October, 2007

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Lazio’s injury crisis intensified as Cristian Ledesma must undergo meniscus surgery after a training ground accident.

The creative midfielder picked up the injury to his left knee during today’s training session and tests at the Mater Dei clinic confirmed the worst.


The meniscus lesion requires keyhole surgery and Ledesma is expected to be sidelined for at least a month, possibly two.


It is a particularly bitter blow for Delio Rossi, as he has few other options in that role at the club.


Lazio have been struggling with injuries throughout the campaign, as Mobido Diakhitè is out for the season, while Sebastiano Siviglia and Fabio Firmani are also long-term absentees.


Tommaso Rocchi and Valon Behrami are doubts for Sunday’s match against Milan. Rocchi made a startling recovery from a sprained ankle to face Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, but is unlikely to be risked again so soon.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Behrami slams Lotito attitude Tuesday 9 October, 2007

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Lazio starlet Valon Behrami has bravely criticised President Claudio Lotito for leaving before the end of the Biancocelesti’s 5-1 drubbing against Milan.

The capital club were humiliated at the Stadio Olimpico by a resurgent Rossoneri, but Behrami was angry to hear that the club patron had chosen to beat the traffic.

“I wouldn’t have done it,” the Swiss winger told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“You always need to give a good image to the Press, even when things aren’t going well.”

However, Behrami couldn’t deny that the hammering was a miserable day after the club’s recent prosperity.

“Looking into Coach Delio Rossi’s eyes you could understand his situation – it was the worst game of his spell at Lazio and we made him look bad,” the ex-Verona man continued.

“We made lots of errors and there were lapses in concentration. It’s in defence rather than attack that we need to look at things.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Mutarelli: League is priority Wednesday 17 October, 2007

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Lazio midfielder Massimo Mutarelli has urged his side to recreate their Champions League form in Serie A.

While the Biancocelesti have impressed in Europe’s showpiece competition and drew 2-2 with Real Madrid, they have stuttered in the League.

“Serie A is still our main objective,” the 29-year-old insisted. “Maybe when you play a side like Madrid on the biggest stage you get a special strength, but the League is key."

The Aquile are languishing in the bottom half and are still reeling from a 5-1 evisceration at the hands of Milan in Week 7.

“We gave Milan too much space on the break,” the ex-Genoa man grimaced. “We miss the injured Cristian Ledesma as he is very important for us and tough to replace.

“I want to see people stop criticising the ‘keeper Fernando Muslera. It isn’t just his fault as the defence and midfield are also responsible.”

This weekend sees Lazio face Livorno – a game known for bitter rivalries between politically polarised fans.

“It will be tough,” Mutarelli admitted. “They have a new boss and it is a strange time for them. We will have to be very focused.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[cerebral_assassin]

The fire's heating up at lazio!

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Lazio have become a colourless and boring team. I liked to watch them in some matches before but now they are too boring.

[Daniele]

Boring and colorless?? I don't know what team you're watching bud. The play some of the most exciting football in Italy. Did you watch the game against Real? That was one of the most exciting games this year. Just cause of one let down against Milan...and it wasn't even the whole game, they gave out in the second half. They could have easily kept up with Milan if they had the legs. Unfortunatley injuries combined with a poor summer transfer market is hurting us but our football is still far from boring.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I don't see much quality in the team. Name some class players? The game against Milan was unprofessional and shameful.

[D-Kin]

Rocchi, Ledesma, Mauri, Behrami and Pandev are all quality players.

Losing Oddo was a blow but they've still got a class team in my opinion.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I can't believe how they could lose by so much against Milan at home?!?!

[D-Kin]

They lost 5-1 but four of those goals were the fault of their young keeper who was making his debut in Serie A.

The result didn't really reflect the performance.

[cerebral_assassin]

Mourah meghni and del nero could become huge stars if given the proper roles and time.

[D-Kin]

I rate Meghni, Del Nero is average in my opinion though.