Lazio Coach Stefano Pioli insists “the club think I’m the perfect Coach for this team” amid rumours he’s under pressure.
The Biancocelesti have gone six Serie A games without a win, and it was rumoured this morning that Walter Mazzarri had been sounded-out as a replacement.
Lazio Coach Stefano Pioli insists “the club think I’m the perfect Coach for this team” amid rumours he’s under pressure.
The Biancocelesti have gone six Serie A games without a win, and it was rumoured this morning that Walter Mazzarri had been sounded-out as a replacement.
“With regard to the club, they think I’m the perfect Coach for this team,” Pioli told journalists in his Press conference ahead of the Europa League tie with Saint-Etienne.
“I think so too. We’re working better, I’ve named a full squad because this is a competition that deserves it.
“Of course, we’re also thinking about Monday’s game against Sampdoria, because it will be very important.
“This game isn’t a nuisance, but an opportunity to find our best form for the future.
“After a difficult month in the League, we’ve done well [in Europe]. Definitely at the moment we have to improve in the first half, because we always concede goals, so we have to start that tomorrow.”
What specific threats do the French side pose to the Aquile in tomorrow’s game?
“They already showed in the first leg that they had the ability to go through. They have fast players, who can cause you problems at any time.”
Fiorentina and Napoli fell at the semi-final stage in this competition last season, with Juventus doing the same the season before, and Pioli wants his side to go all the way.
“The last [Italian] team to win it was Parma in 1999, when it wasn’t even called that [the Europa League],” the tactician noted.
“We firmly believe. We came first in the group, and we want to go all the way.”