Edy Reja has lamented the ongoing injury problems that have hit his Lazio squad this season and admits he's “seriously concerned about Palermo."
Edy Reja has lamented the ongoing injury problems that have hit his Lazio squad this season and admits he's “seriously concerned about Palermo."
Reja has been without the likes of Stefano Mauri and Cristian Brocchi for an extended period of the campaign, whilst from the turn of the year, only twice has the Coach had a first-choice back-four to start a game.
At the same time, the team’s defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League last night continued a run in the competition of having fielded a different defensive line-up every game.
“It becomes difficult to work when you are changing two to three players every week,” reflected the 66-year-old tactician.
“And I am seriously concerned for Palermo.”
First-choice full-backs Stefan Radu and Abdoulay Konko are absent this weekend through injury and suspension respectively, centre-back Giuseppe Biava is out for 10 days after an injury against Atletico, whilst back-up centre-back Modibo Diakite is also suspended this weekend.
Andre Dias and Senad Lulic, who can play at left-back, are both major doubts in their respective attempts to regain full fitness, leaving Reja with only Marius Stankevicius as a certainty in defence at the Renzo Barbera on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, both Cristian Ledesma and Matuzalem are set for involvement too, despite both midfielders being in action on Thursday night.
“I’d like to rest them,” admitted Reja, before he tried to make light of the entire situation. “I hope there are two or three major purchases in the market in March…”