Peruzzi will play through the pain on Sunday
Angelo Peruzzi has decided to start against Parma this Sunday, despite his nagging injury. It will be his last opportunity to play in front of the home crowd at the Olimpico before his retirement at the end of the season.
Rocchi's agent: Tommaso prefers Lazio to a move
Mezza Europa vuole Rocchi. Lui sta bene alla Lazio, il presidente Lotito è disposto ad incontrarci per discutere il contratto in scadenza tra 2 anni. Rocchi preferisce essere il primo alla Lazio che il terzo o il quarto in un altro club'. Non è difficile trattare con Lotito -- il presidente della Lazio è una persona squisita, ci vorrebbero tanti dirigenti come lui."Half of Europe wants Rocchi. He is happy at Lazio, and president Lotito is inclined to meet with him to discuss a contract for after two years [when Rocchi's current contract expires]. Rocchi prefers to be the first at Lazio than the third or fourth at another club. It isn't difficult to negotiate with Lotito -- the president of Lazio is a great person, I wish there were more leaders like him."
Amelia would consider a move to Lazio
Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia has said that he wouldn't have a problem with a transfer to Lazio (to replace retiring Angelo Peruzzi), despite the fact that he has played for Roma in the past. He says that the motivation for such a move is a matter of professionalism, not revenge.
Formation troubles for match with Parma
Lazio will be forced to start essentially a B-squad against Parma this Sunday, with six players out due to disqualification or injury. Zauri, Siviglia, Mutarelli, and Mudingayi are out to suspension; Peruzzi and Mauri will not yet be returning from injury. The predicted formation for Sunday's match (replacements in italics):
Sanctions of the Giudice Sportivo following matchday 36
Siviglia: suspended two games (red card for protesting; insults made to the referee)
Zauri: suspended one game (4th yellow card), €1000 fine (carded when acting as captain)
Mudingayi: suspended one game (14th yellow card)
Mutarelli: suspended one game (11th yellow card)
club fines: €9000 (for fans repeatedly singing songs inciting violence; for delaying the start of the match three minutes)
Delio Rossi maintains that a comment he made to the press after yesterday's game was misinterpreted. He said "Non so se resto" (I don't know if I will stay), but Lazio president Claudio Lotito has clarified this:
Mi ha riferito di aver solo detto che il suo contratto scade nel 2009 e che dopo si vedrà"He told me that he only meant that his contract finishes in 2009 and after that we will see."
Rossi, senza gli infortunati Peruzzi e Mauri, ha dato fiducia a nonno Ballotta."Rossi, without the injured Peruzzi and Mauri, has put his trust in grandpa Ballotta"
Delio: "Champions is a great feat"
Se mi avessero detto che a due giornate dalla fine avrebbe raggiunto la Champions avrei firmato col sangue. Solo il tempo dirà quello che fatto questo gruppo. Mi dispiace per gli altri che parlano di classifica virtuale, anche perché anche noi potremmo parlare della nostra posizione al netto della penalizzazione. Sembra che si voglia sminuire ciò che abbiamo costruito, e questo non è giusto. Per me i ragazzi si sono comportati benissimo."If I could have said that two days from the end of the season we would have achieved a spot in Champions, I would have signed in blood. Only time will tell what this group can do. I'm disappointed at others who talk about a "virtual" classifica, because we too can talk about our position after penalization. It seems that they want to diminish what we've achieved, and that's not fair. As far as I'm concerned, the boys have carried themselves very well."
Lazio suffered a tough loss on the road to Inter today. After going ahead 0-2 in the first five minutes on goals from Pandev and Mutarelli, Hernan Crespo scored twice to bring Inter back level. With less than five minutes left in the first half, Christian Ledesma put Lazio back in front with an arcing direct free kick which banked off the inside of the upright and into the net. Lazio couldn't maintain their lead, though. In the last ten minutes of the second half, Crespo earned a hat trick to tie the match again. After Sebastian Siviglia was sent off, Marco Materazzi scored the game-winner against Lazio at ten men.
Elsewhere around Serie A, Empoli lost 2-0 at Siena, guaranteeing Lazio at least the fourth position in the classifica and a spot in Champions League qualifying. Torino clawed upward in the relegation battle by defeating Roma 0-1 at the Olimpico. Milan's 1-1 draw against Catania (at a neutral site in Bologna) keeps Lazio in the third position for now.
Ballotta to start at Inter
Marco Ballotta will be in goal tomorrow against Inter. Angelo Peruzzi is unable to play due to continuing problems with his right wrist and hand. Peruzzi will not even be on the bench for the match.
Lazio will clinch a Champions League qualifying spot this Sunday either by earning a single point against Inter or if Empoli fails to win on the road against Siena.
Peruzzi's status remains unknown
Peruzzi will travel with the team to Milan, but it is unknown whether he will be able to play (wrist). Rocchi is 100% and will play. Mauri is still out and Jimenez will remain at the trequartista position. Mudingayi, back from suspension, will be back in the starting lineup.
back from the dead (ok, three months' hiatus). here's the plan. the long articles like i used to write took forever and came to be quite a burden. now i'm going to just post quick summaries of Lazio news, as it appears.
enjoy!
