Lazio Press Room:One more year for Ballotta

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Rossi set for Lazio sack? Sunday 13 January, 2008

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Lazio Coach Delio Rossi is locked in crisis talks with President Claudio Lotito after their 2-1 home defeat to Genoa.


It was hoped the Biancocelesti would turn a corner with the start of 2008 after their Champions League exit, but the loss to little Genoa sent them within four points of the relegation zone.


Rossi has still not emerged to meet the Press, as he is locked in the dressing room with President Lotito and director of sport Walter Sabatini for crisis talks.


Meanwhile, midfielder Massimo Mutarelli commented on the shock defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.


“It was an ugly loss, especially as both goals came in quick succession,” said the player.


“Genoa did well, but we were very confused on the field. We couldn’t seem to create any real scoring opportunities.


“The spirit was right, but something just wasn’t working on the pitch. Plus the referee was very generous with our opponents.”


Marco Borriello equalised with an extremely soft penalty before turning the game around completely with his brace.

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Lazio: Rossi axe? No, renewal! Tuesday 15 January, 2008

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Lazio have insisted they won’t fire Coach Delio Rossi and in fact are ready to offer him a contract extension until 2011.


The tactician was expected to be axed over the weekend after their controversial 2-1 home defeat to Genoa, a result that sent them hurtling to within four points of the relegation zone.


“Rather than underlining the serious refereeing errors that have more than once altered matches, always and only detrimental to Lazio, some prefer to stir up doubts and suspicions regarding the friendly atmosphere within the club,” read an official statement released on their website.


“There have been invented reports of contrasts between directors, which in reality do not exist.


“Lazio confirm their full, total and unconditional faith in Coach Delio Rossi, who has been offered a contract renewal until 2011.


“This confirms our recognition of the work he has done and is planning for the future of this project.”


Rossi’s position had also been hurt by the Biancocelesti’s Champions League exit, as finishing fourth in their group meant missing out on a UEFA Cup spot as well.


Lazio President Claudio Lotito has defended his tactician and pointed the finger of blame at referees after Sunday’s controversial decision to award Genoa an extremely soft penalty. At the time, Lazio were leading 1-0.

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Lotito: Leave us alone Friday 18 January, 2008

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Lazio President Claudio Lotito has explained why he has imposed a Press silence and implored the media to leave the Aquile alone.

The outspoken chief has regularly fallen out with the nation’s journalists who he believes to be biased against his side and he blames for recent reports that Coach Delio Rossi was approaching the sack.

After Lazio’s Coppa Italia win over Napoli last night, Lotito again criticised the way coverage the Biancocelesti receive in newspapers and on television.

“This success shows that the Lazio unit can go far,” Lotito said on La7. “Even without lots of first-choice players, the team did well and the atmosphere in the dressing room is calm.

“My decision to impose a Press silence means that we avoid unsettling the players.

“Some media sources like to create problems that aren’t really there such as those between a Coach and the club or between players and the boss,” he continued.

“The media attacks happen because Rome is unique and suffers for the fact that certain people hold a set view of Lazio.

“There are certain external elements that don’t like us and they surface every time we meet a top club like Real Madrid.

“I would like a public like the Neapolitans who are always behind their side,” Lotito concluded.

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Radu has Chivu ambition Tuesday 29 January, 2008

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Lazio’s new signing Stefan Radu hopes to follow in the footsteps of another Romanian who made it big in Serie A – Cristian Chivu.

“I am already settling in well, my only problem is the language,” said the 21-year-old defender who made the move from Dinamo Bucharest.

“I consider myself a committed player who works very hard. I came here to play and not to sit on the sidelines and watch.

“Chivu is my idol and I would love to follow in his footsteps,” he said of the former Roma star, now leading the standings at Inter.

Radu could well be thrown in at the deep end immediately, as Lazio are struggling with an injury crisis that has decimated their defence.

Lorenzo De Silvestri is out for a month with a thigh strain, while Fabio Firmani, Luciano Zauri and Mobido Diakhite are also sidelined.

Guglielmo Stendardo has been loaned out to Juventus, but Aleksander Kolarov is suspended for this weekend’s meeting with Sampdoria.

“The players gave me a warm welcome and I am happy to be at Lazio,” continued Radu, who has joined on loan with an option to make it permanent at the end of the season.

“This is an important club and I remember the strong side that deserved to win the Champions League preliminary round.”

Radu was in the Dinamo Bucharest squad that was eliminated from the competition by the Biancocelesti in August.

Lazio drew the first leg 1-1 before winning in Romania with a 3-1 scoreline.

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Lotito proud of Jan business Monday 4 February, 2008

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Lazio chief Claudio Lotito has denied reports that Rolando Bianchi is commanding a mega salary and is delighted with his January dealings.

The capital club were last season’s surprise package in Serie A when they finished in third place, but they have suffered a miserable start to this campaign.

However, after signing Rolando Bianchi, David Rozehnal, Stefan Radu and Ousmane Dabo in January, the Biancocelesti responded with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria yesterday.

“This team is back on track and getting results,” Lotito told Radio Anch’io Sport. “Our winter signings were a gamble that will pay off.

“The integration of new players will give a stimulus to the entire squad – a squad that came third last year.

We couldn’t have foreseen the injuries in the summer, so we had to respond to them in January - even yesterday we had to play with 11 men missing.”

French midfielder Dabo returned to the Stadio Olimpico having left for Manchester City in 2006.

“Ousmane left because he asked for a salary that was three times the sum we could agree to,” Lotito revealed.

“He made a financial decision and left, but now he has returned at a reasonable rate and I am happy with that.”

The big business of the winter was the addition of former Reggina marksman Bianchi, who commanded a huge fee, but Lotito insists that his salary isn’t astronomical.

“Bianchi chose Lazio because he believed in the project,” he maintained.

“The talk about £650,000 signing-on fees and £225,000 straight to Bianchi are totally unfounded.

“Rolando is within our financial parameters. Anyone who comes here must be compatible.”

Coach Delio Rossi has been tipped by some sections of the Press as a replacement for Edy Reja at Napoli, but Lotito is adamant that his tactician isn’t going anywhere.

“It’s a mystery where these rumours start,” he said. “Rossi is our boss until 2009.

“The club renewed his contract and he doesn’t seem like the kind of man to go back on that.”




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Foundation for slain Lazio fan Friday 8 February, 2008

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Lazio star Lorenzo De Silvestri was “honoured” to inaugurate a foundation dedicated to Gabriele Sandri, the fan accidentally shot dead by police.


De Silvestri was one of several Biancocelesti players who were friends of the DJ and were devastated to hear he had been shot in the back of a car in November.


Sandri had been travelling to Lazio’s Serie A game with Inter at San Siro when the bullet was fired to quell an altercation between groups of supporters at a motorway service station.


“I am very honoured to represent Lazio and, in my own small way, Gabriele,” said the Under-21 international defender.


“Gabbo was always very close to me, both as a fan and a friend. I will do everything I can even with small gestures to help this foundation, which wants the best for youngsters and sport.”


The Gabriele Sandri Foundation will help those who are the victims of violence, although not necessarily within the world of sport.


“His memory accompanies me every time I play,” continued De Silvestri. “Every time I step on to the field I think of him and it charges me up. I have his name embroidered into my boots and hope I can score many goals for him.”


Also in attendance at the ceremony were Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, the Sandri family, Roma goalkeeper Gianluca Curci, Luca Di Bartolomei and Stefano Re Cecconi to represent the two clubs.


“This Foundation will be aimed against every act of violence and named after a Roman lad who was loved by many in this city,” explained Veltroni.


“It is an initiative that ties in well with Giorgio Sandri’s proposal to watch the Rome derby in the Curva Sud, sending a message he loves sport and life and wants to defend them.”


Giorgio Sandri is Gabriele Sandri’s father and suggested watching the derby in the Giallorossi end of the Stadio Olimpico.

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Lotito: Lazio for life Friday 28 March, 2008

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Lazio supremo Claudio Lotito has made a lifelong pledge to the Biancocelesti and has every faith in Coach Delio Rossi.

The Biancocelesti have suffered a terribly disappointing season and have failed to live up to last term’s third-placed finish.

There have been rumours that Lotito would quit the game after fierce criticism from some Lazio fans, but the outspoken chief insists that he is going nowhere.

“I hope to be Lazio President for life,” he said on Teleradiostereo. “Contrary to some people’s expectations, as I hear people say that I will be leaving.”

Prior to their victory in the Derby della Capitale, Coach Rossi had been under fire with the Press lining up potential replacements for the end of the season.

“The club have proposed a renewal of Delio Rossi’s contract and he has indicated that he will honour his contract,” Lotito insisted.

“Before the derby they were saying that we had already found a deal with Leonardo Acori, but I don’t even know where that came from.

“Then they were talking about Rossi to Napoli and Tommaso Rocchi to Monaco
Who does all this talk help?”

Lotito then took the chance to give his vision for the Aquile’s future and he gave an upbeat message.

“As far as the Lazio project is concerned, we are focusing on the new stadium, which will become an international centre and attraction,” he revealed.

“As for signings, lots of players worldwide aspire to play for this club. Players who have our mentality, like Arsenal’s, that don’t demand these vast English or Spanish wages.

“The important thing is to stay humble. The Lazio attitude is our extra weapon that unfortunately only seems to come out at times of difficulty.”

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Rossi looks to Lazio future Monday 31 March, 2008

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Lazio boss Delio Rossi insists that he won’t be leaving in the summer and is enjoying the Aquile’s recent renaissance.

After a disappointing campaign, Rossi has restored pride with a derby triumph over Roma and last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Inter.

His contract ties him to the Stadio Olimpico for another season, but there have been suggestions that he could be replaced in pre-season.

“I am building my future with the present,” he insisted on Radio Kiss Kiss.

“I have another year on my contract and I think I will respect that. I will sit down with the club to discuss what will happen.”

Lazio were somewhat unfortunate not to claim all three points against Serie A’s reigning champions on Saturday as they struck the woodwork twice.

“The leaders aren’t at their best at the moment,” Rossi stressed. “But they are still the best unit in Serie A in terms of resources and physicality.

“I think we deserved to win on Saturday, given the way we played, but they have so much quality that they can destroy you at any moment.”

In recent weeks there has been some animosity between Rossi and Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti, but the Biancocelesti boss is keen to play down the rift.

“I don’t have a problem because I have great respect for him as a professional and as a man,” he maintained.

“It’s just a shame because it seems that people always create a rivalry between the two Coaches of these teams.”

The next test for Lazio is a trip to the Stadio Tardini to face Parma, whose game with Juventus was postponed due to the death of a Ducali fan at a service station while en route to Turin.

“After what happened yesterday to the Parma fan, I think that Sunday’s game won’t be a game like any other,” Rossi warned.

“It will be a strange Sunday and it will be everything that is bad in football because we should only ever have to talk about what happens on the pitch.”

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Rossi demands Lazio determination Sunday 6 April, 2008

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Lazio have won the derby and achieved mid-table safety, but Delio Rossi slams those who think his team has no motivation against Parma.

“I do not agree for three reasons. We are not out of the running for a UEFA Cup place, regardless of our Coppa Italia participation. We are not mathematically safe and third must earn our result every weekend,” said the Coach.

Their next test is against a very motivated outfit, as Parma need to escape the relegation zone.

“They play with great quality and I was surprised to see them so low down the table. I expect to see a Lazio performance similar to our last two games.”

One of the reasons for the upturn in Lazio’s fortunes since January has been the arrival of Rolando Bianchi from Manchester City.

“I do not just evaluate a striker on his goal record, but also for what he does working for the team. He’ll score when he least expects it, just like Tommaso Rocchi broke his drought earlier this season.”

Despite a stuttering campaign, Lazio President Claudio Lotito has said he’ll offer a new two-year deal to Rossi.

“I have a contract and want to respect it. If the President calls, then we will talk about it. Would I like a future abroad? I never thought about it. I do have an aspiration, but I won’t reveal what it is. I can confirm it’s not in Europe.”

The tactician could be talking about the international bench of one of the African nations, as other Italian Coaches who have taken such jobs include Franco Scoglio and Giuseppe Dossena.

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One more year for Ballotta Friday 11 April, 2008

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Lazio goalkeeper Marco Ballotta - Serie A’s oldest player - is refusing to hang up his gloves at the end of the season.

At the age of 44, Ballotta had been expected to make this campaign his last, but has been the Biancocelesti’s first choice between the posts due to the breakdown of Juan Pablo Carrizo’s transfer from River Plate.

Despite a few howlers, Ballotta’s 27th year in the game has been successful enough to convince the custodian to carry on.

“I will play for another year,” he revealed. “I was going to retire 10 years ago, but then I just carried on and carried on and it has proven to be the right choice.

“Every year I tell myself that this is the last season, but then I always keep going in the end. When I am finally forced to quit it will be a very sad moment for me.”

Ballotta won’t be expecting to play as regularly next term with a new shot-stopper almost certain to arrive and youngster Nestor Muslera reportedly growing in confidence.

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Rossi holds on to UEFA dream
Sunday 13 April, 2008

Delio Rossi has not lost hope of a UEFA Cup place if Lazio can beat Siena this afternoon to spark a run of positive results.

“We must take it one game at a time so that first we can mathematically rule out relegation, then by winning all our remaining matches we can even qualify for the UEFA Cup.”

It has been an inconsistent campaign for the Biancocelesti, who were eliminated from the Champions League in the first round and at one point risked the drop.

“I am thinking of introducing some new faces. I need to see those who have not played as much, especially so I can make evaluations over the future.

“However, if we go out there focused entirely on the Coppa Italia semi-final, then we’re just hurting ourselves.”

Lazio take on Inter in Wednesday’s Coppa clash and winning that trophy would also qualify them for the UEFA Cup.

“I expect to find Siena with the bit between their teeth. They have rediscovered their playing style and enthusiasm. We play the same way, so it should be entertaining.”

Rolando Bianchi is likely to be rested ahead of the Coppa Italia game, while Igli Tare is ready to replace Tommaso Rocchi or Goran Pandev if needs be.

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