Luis Alberto feels Lazio could’ve scored ‘five or six’ in their 4-2 win over Feyenoord, but is ‘tired of hearing’ criticism of his performances, commitment and reported desire to return to Spain.
The Aquile were dominant for at least an hour at the Stadio Olimpico and were leading 4-0 with Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson and two Matias Vecino goals.
Luis Alberto also hit the frame of the goal with an in-swinging corner kick for this strong start to the Europa League group phase.
“We played six games this season and at least five were at a really high level, playing excellent football, including the first 25 minutes against Napoli,” Luis Alberto told Sky Sport Italia.
“The important thing was to win today, to give the sensation we were a team and the first half was so good we could’ve scored five or six times.”
Despite the crushing victory, the midfielder was in an irritable mood when speaking to the media and had to get a few things off his chest.
“I’m a bit tired of hearing what people want to say. It’s been for a while now that when we win, we win together, when we lose it is Luis Alberto’s fault for some reason. I am tired of this, I play for the team, not against it.
“If the coach picks me, it’s because he thinks it is best for the team, nobody is holding a knife to him and forcing him to do it.
“I don’t have the characteristics of other players when it comes to being defensive, the coach asks me to pass the ball around and that is what I tried to do today.”
There were rumours over the summer that Luis Alberto was trying to force his way out of Lazio for a return to Sevilla, but this too angered the Spain international.
“I always said that I wanted to go back to Seville eventually, because it’s my home, my mother is getting older and she wants me closer to her, so all that is natural.
“I only ever wanted to go back to Spain, I never named a specific club, whereas if it is staying in Italy then I am very happy at Lazio and don’t need to go anywhere else. When it was clear it was impossible to go to Spain, I was content to stay.”