Former Lazio” data-scaytid=”36″>Lazio Coach Edy Reja believes Vladimir Petkovic is “continuing the work I started” at the Olimpico.
Former Lazio Coach Edy Reja believes Vladimir Petkovic is “continuing the work I started” at the Olimpico.
Reja had already tried to resign mid-season, but eventually walked away during the summer and is now resting. He spoke to RadioSei about his successor to the Aquile bench.
“Petkovic is very talented. He has been able to bring the right mentality, football and belief to a team that already had quality, but above all had real men to count on.
“I saw that Lazio defend in numbers, because with Antonio Candreva, Senad Lulic and Stefano Mauri they go up the whole wing, so that way the team remains tight.
“I’d like to take credit for Candreva being at Lazio, as I asked the President to sign him, having already known him from his time at Udinese.
“The current style of football is attacking and that is also what I had in mind. The Biancocelesti have to qualify for the Champions League, as they have the talent and the experience.”
Reja had gone extremely close to achieving that aim last season, but was pipped to the post by Udinese.
“This is the right year for Lazio to get into the Champions League. If they were to do it, then a little of my work has gone into that too, aside from the obvious values brought by Petkovic, who is continuing the work I started.
“Last season injuries were decisive, while we also had to make changes because Djibril Cisse did not prove to be useful for this project.”