Stefano Pioli says Lazio” data-scaytid=”2″>Lazio remain on track because ‘I know my players’, and that they will be able to deal with Santiago Gentiletti’s absence.
The Aquile face Udinese” data-scaytid=”5″>Udinese on Thursday evening looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Genoa in Week 3.
Stefano Pioli says Lazio remain on track because ‘I know my players’, and that they will be able to deal with Santiago Gentiletti’s absence.
The Aquile face Udinese on Thursday evening looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Genoa in Week 3.
“We have determination and concentration. We were not able to get what we wanted against Genoa, but we are training well,” Pioli has affirmed to reporters today.
“At this time we must express even more character, and spirit in playing the game and winning.
“Are we on the right track? Yes, for several reasons. We have a group of wonderful guys, examples of professionals who work with great determination and measure.
“We are not yet 100 per cent in many situations, but for me the glass is half full. We are on the right track. We are not happy because we have not gotten the results, I hope for a more ruthless approach.
“On Sunday we did not take our chances. At the end of the game our chances created are higher than those of our opponent.
“We are Lazio, we must try to win every game. We are training to try to make the most of the opportunities as they present themselves. Udinese are a solid team that has quality, but we can get a positive result.
“We must progress to becoming more clinical, yes, but we must also become more concrete. We have always had great desire to stay in the game – against Genoa with 11 we would not have lost.
“We are prepared to do more, we have important value in this team. Tomorrow we will be competitive.”
Santiago Gentiletti won’t be playing, as he has been ruled out for six months with knee ligament damage, whilst Lucas Biglia has a foot injury too.
“Certainly we are very sorry, especially for the injury to Santiago, for the severity and duration of it. He is a player who straightaway fitted in with our work, with great availability.
“He is a player who I had pushed for to bring in, for his characteristics. It is true that we have a squad in place, to provide a team of quality in his absence. I am not worried, we will be ready for tomorrow.”
Pioli was asked about ambition to qualify for Europe.
“We can still do it, yes, because I know my players. It is true that tomorrow we will be playing with two different defenders [Stefan de Vrij is suspended too]. But I have never spoken about individuals, but of the team as a whole. We will be competitive all the same.”