Simone Inzaghi saw the right spirit to beat Napoli this evening, but did not seem optimistic over contract talks. ‘Everyone knows how much I love Lazio. Never say never.’
The Aquile recovered from recent setbacks and put in one of their best Serie A performances of the season, winning 2-0 thanks to a Ciro Immobile header and Luis Alberto strike.
Simone Inzaghi saw the right spirit to beat Napoli this evening, but did not seem optimistic over contract talks. ‘Everyone knows how much I love Lazio. Never say never.’
The Aquile recovered from recent setbacks and put in one of their best Serie A performances of the season, winning 2-0 thanks to a Ciro Immobile header and Luis Alberto strike.
It ended a run of two points from the last three games in all competition, including a defeat to Verona and draw with Benevento.
“Seeing the attitude we showed tonight, you might think that we only raise our game against the big clubs. I can see why you’d think that,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
“We did drop some points, partly due to the strain of the Champions League, but objectively the performance wasn’t that bad against Verona and Benevento. The only one we got completely wrong in Serie A was at home to Udinese.
“The whole team did well tonight and I asked everyone to make a strong start against a Napoli side that deserved more midweek against Inter. They had injuries, so did we, but I feel we deserved the victory in performance, spirit and every other way.”
When Luis Alberto scored the second goal, he ran to the touchline and hugged his coach so hard that he picked him up off the ground.
“The last two-and-a-half days have been spent analysing everything. We know that we have potential and quality, there’s a good rapport with everyone.
“Luis Alberto had COVID, he has this annoying inflammation that means he struggles to train consistently, so we are all there to support him.”
Inzaghi was asked if Lazio had unconsciously encouraged the squad to rest on their laurels by celebrating Champions League Round of 16 qualification like a trophy.
“It may well be true, but as well as our European journey, we also had some big problems. All the teams did, but we probably had more than most with the COVID cases at a moment that forced us to not rotate the squad. Tonight, I practically had to use the same team that played against Benevento three days ago.
“I do agree that we must see the Champions League as a starting point and not as the finish line. We must always play with this hunger and determination.”
Pepe Reina seems to have overtaken Thomas Strakosha as first choice for the Lazio gloves.
“I must be honest, Reina is doing really well. At the same time, Thomas Strakosha had COVID and I rushed him back without training enough, it was my fault. His moment will come, but right now Pepe is in great form and it wouldn’t be right to bench him at this moment. He’s earned his place.”
Inevitably, Inzaghi was asked about the contract extension talks with President Claudio Lotito and did not seem particularly optimistic.
“We’ve been working together for 17 years, so our rapport goes beyond football. You never know what could happen in football.
“We talked a bit after the Bruges game, then decided to wait until this run of matches had been completed. Everyone knows how much I love Lazio, so we’ll see. Never say never.”