Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi must cope without some of his key members and is worried about an “uncomfortable” match against Bologna. “It hasn't been a simple week”.
Lazio have a chance of putting pressure on their rivals in the Scudetto race when Bologna arrive at the Olimpico, but the team will not have their supporters to help them out on Saturday.
The match will be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak and Inzaghi has admitted it’s “strange” to play without any spectators.
Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi must cope without some of his key members and is worried about an “uncomfortable” match against Bologna. “It hasn't been a simple week”.
Lazio have a chance of putting pressure on their rivals in the Scudetto race when Bologna arrive at the Olimpico, but the team will not have their supporters to help them out on Saturday.
The match will be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak and Inzaghi has admitted it’s “strange” to play without any spectators.
“It’s something that is happening, I expressed myself after Genoa, to play behind closed doors is strange but I think there are competent authorities that are evaluating,” Inzaghi said at a press conference. “We must adapt to the decisions made by those above us. There’s a problem, we hope to defeat it soon.”
Francesco Acerbi injured his calf during the warm-up against Genoa last time and Inzaghi feels Denis Vavro stepped up to fill the void.
“He had an excellent game,” Inzaghi added. “He deserved it because of the way he trained during the time he didn’t play.”
The big fixture of Serie A Week 26 will take place at the Allianz Stadium when Inter travel to Turin to face Juventus.
The match could be decisive also for Lazio, but Inzaghi is not sure what he wants the outcome to be on Sunday.
“I hope the viewers will enjoy themselves, since it’s behind closed doors. I don’t know who to support, I’m leaning towards Lazio and Bologna, which will be a very important game.”
He knows that a win “could” put pressure on Juventus at the top but pointed out that the Bianconeri are used to dealing with these kinds of situations.
“It could, but they’re a team build in a particular way. They have been at the top for a long time and know how to handle the pressure,” he added. “The spotlight has also turned on us. We have been up there for two and a half months.
“We must continue like this, knowing that Bologna are tough opponents.”
He has admitted that Lazio are living a great moment but revealed that the trophies he has won are the best memories.
“The trophies remain [the best time at Lazio]. We are living some wonderful days, even on Sunday, it was nice to celebrate with so many fans at the Marassi.
Lazio will climb to the top – at least for one night – with a win against Bologna and Inzaghi insisted that he doesn’t think too much about it.
“I thought more about the game we are going to play, which is not simple but very uncomfortable,” he said. “Bologna have 34 points; they have had a lot of knocks on important players and have a great record away from home in the last period.”
“It has not been a simple week. Tomorrow we will be missing some players. Acerbi won’t be there, [Senad] Lulic will be missing for a while.
“I don’t think [Adam] Marusic will be there, his problem has surprised us. He was a useful player right now. Today, we will see how it is, but we won’t risk anything. I have moderate feelings about Jony and [Sergej] Milinkovic-Savic.
“[Ciro] Immobile had a strong flu that seemed to be over yesterday. But we must be ready for anything.”