Simone Inzaghi feels Lazio have so far been surprising, but ahead of the Derby della Capitale with Roma “the best is yet to come.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“It is a separate game from the rest of the season, that’s what the derby represents,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
Simone Inzaghi feels Lazio have so far been surprising, but ahead of the Derby della Capitale with Roma “the best is yet to come.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“It is a separate game from the rest of the season, that’s what the derby represents,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“As a player I’ve been through many of them, as a Coach I did with the youth teams, but it’ll be my first at senior level. We’re facing a strong side, but with the same humility and determination we’ve seen in recent months, we can win it.
“There always has to be determination, but tomorrow even more so. We’ve done well thus far and now have to confirm our status among the top teams, which is not easy.
“The table says there is only one point between us and Roma, so evidently it’s a pretty evenly-matched derby. We should’ve beaten Bologna and Torino, but overall the table does accurately reflect our season.
“The mood in the locker room is good, we are all involved and aware of the situation. I tried to create a real squad, to get everyone feeling a part of the project. If we are united and all work in the same direction, then the best is yet to come.
“Roma were built to win the Scudetto and take part in the Champions League, whereas we started out with many looking down on us. Now everyone is talking about Lazio and the best is yet to come.
“Unfortunately, the derby is such a special game that it can influence the trend of a campaign. A victory would be wonderful and we’ll do all we can to achieve it. We need all the players, including the three off the bench, to be perfect.”
Roma are without Mohamed Salah due to an ankle injury, while Stephan El Shaarawy is not 100 per cent fit either.
“Salah is a great player and without doubt brings added value to the Roma side. Whoever replaces him will be highly-motivated and can also help them out more in defence than Salah usually did, so his absence could well be a double-edged sword for us.
“We have great respect for Roma and Luciano Spalletti, who always wants his team to play great football and will try to cause us problems.
“Sergej Milinkovic-Savic picked up a knock in training on Thursday, he had a lot of pain and we’ll have to evaluate him and Stefan de Vrij tomorrow.
“The players don’t need to be fired up for a derby. They walk around the city, they can feel the atmosphere and know what this game means.
“Some of them were here that May 26 (the Coppa Italia Final victory), others have played without winning. At the Olimpico it is a special derby and it’s right to be fired up, but just as important are humility and concentration.
“This team knows it is achieving great results and playing beautiful football. There was some criticism after our draw at Napoli because we changed system, but that’s a sign of humility, knowing how to adapt to limit the opposition. Everyone followed my instructions to the letter.”
Inzaghi reveals he’s had a few problems with referee Nicola Banti.
“He was the last one to send me off during Inter–Atalanta as a player, then last year I was sent to the stands as a Coach during Lazio-Inter. Maybe we didn’t expect him to be assigned to this game, as he officiated the derby last year, but he is up to the task.”