Edy Reja feels tonight’s showdown with Napoli is “a graduation exam” for Lazio, especially as they are without so many injured players.
Edy Reja feels tonight’s showdown with Napoli is “a graduation exam” for Lazio, especially as they are without so many injured players.
The joint Serie A leaders step into the Stadio San Paolo this evening without Miroslav Klose, Stefano Mauri, Andre Dias, Javier Garrido, Albano Bizzarri, Libor Kozak and Stephen Makinwa, while Giuseppe Biava is not 100 per cent fit.
“Winning in Naples is a tough ask anyway, but with all these injuries it becomes even more complicated,” said the Coach who took Napoli from Serie C to the top flight.
“We are missing Klose, who is irreplaceable, but we’re not looking for excuses. What counts is the mentality and we have often come out well from complicated situations.
“This is going to be a graduation exam for us and a positive result would raise our self-esteem. It is a top of the table battle and a very important test.”
Djibril Cissè will start in place of Klose and perhaps change position to centre-forward, hoping to end his goal drought.
“The goal hasn’t come for a while, but he needs to stay calm,” insisted Reja.
“I don’t think Napoli will be distracted by the Champions League and Manchester City. They know the Serie A leaders are coming to the San Paolo and will give their all.”