Lazio director Igli Tare confirms advanced talks for Verona defender Marash Kumbulla, but injuries have dented their Scudetto ambitions. ‘We’ll fight to the end.’
The trip to Lecce kicks off at 18.30 UK time (17.30 GMT), click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
Lazio director Igli Tare confirms advanced talks for Verona defender Marash Kumbulla, but injuries have dented their Scudetto ambitions. ‘We’ll fight to the end.’
The trip to Lecce kicks off at 18.30 UK time (17.30 GMT), click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.
“It’s a rough moment and has been since the return from the lockdown. We took a different approach because of all these injuries, but this squad is still challenging for something very important and we’ll fight to the end as long as there is hope,” Tare told Sky Sport Italia.
“We are among the top three teams challenging for the Scudetto, but the most penalised in terms of injuries and also timing. This is our fourth game in three days, we play closer together than Juventus and Inter.
“I don’t want those to be excuses, but they are part of the analysis. We talked it over with the team yesterday, we believe all the way and will keep going.”
Ciro Immobile and Felipe Caicedo are back from suspension this evening after the 3-0 defeat to Milan, but Sergej Milinkovic-Savic misses out.
“Milinkovic-Savic had this slight injury after the Milan game, we tried to recover him from the start and it wasn’t possible, but he could come off the bench.
“I would’ve gladly played with the full squad at our disposal, but sadly we have been missing some key players like Senad Lulic and Adam Marusic for months on end. Lucas Leiva and Milinkovic are making sacrifices to play through pain and when playing every three days, that does in the long run have an effect.”
Lazio are reportedly close to a deal for Hellas Verona defender Marash Kumbulla, something Tare did not deny.
“Nothing has changed, Lazio have never made a €30m offer for anyone, so the rumours are not true. The player could be an important figure for the future of Lazio, so it’s an opportunity for us to make more of an effort, but we won’t change our general philosophy. Danger is always around the corner.
“We will try to form a team that can be competitive again next season.”
Simone Inzaghi will remain on the Lazio bench, despite interest from bigger clubs.
“Simone is the history of this club, he’s been here over 20 years as player and coach. What he achieved here will remain in history, will be unique, he lives football and Lazio with great passion, which is what brought him to this point.”