Felipe Anderson admits Ciro Immobile did not play, but was instrumental with advice and leadership qualities as Lazio beat arch-rivals Roma.
The Brazilian had to fill in as a False 9 for injured teammate Immobile, who insisted on sitting on the bench to be close to his teammates during the Derby della Capitale, and scored the winning goal after Pedro harassed Roger Ibanez into an error playing out from the back.
“I’ve lost my voice from screaming, but it’s all worth it,” laughed Felipe Anderson on DAZN.
“Every Rome Derby is an historic moment and I am going to keep this shirt to myself.”
Lazio were the underdogs this evening without Immobile and suspended Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
“They really fired us up and that helped those of us who were on the pitch. We must continue like this, with humility, but also the knowledge we are a strong team.
“Immobile is a real leader and a master of the role I am currently playing in. He gave me advice and was so helpful. I hope he can return as soon as possible, but until then, I will keep asking for his advice on the right movement to make.”
Lazio also needed a boost after their defeats to Salernitana in Serie A and Feyenoord in the Europa League, but came together to overturn the odds.
“We fought all together. We are a group that want to fly high and this victory gives us that boost to keep going.”
The result allowed them to catch Atalanta in third place, going ahead of La Dea thanks to their superior head-to-head record.
Beatiful, beatiful.