Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi discussed the Biancocelesti’s 1-1 draw with Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sports Italia after the game.
“Great satisfaction to have such a squad, it’s difficult to ask for something more at the moment. In the last two Champions League away games we were thirteen players, Luiz Felipe this morning had a pain walking on his calf and I put him in for the last five minutes.
“They are going beyond any expectations, I congratulate them. I demand a lot, at the end of the first half I told them they could give more even though I know that they are scraping the bottom of the barrel and it is not easy. I’m honoured with this squad.”
He spoke about the ongoing FIGC investigation into the Roman club. Ciro Immobile, Lucas Leiva and Thomas Strakosha were all forced to miss tonight’s game due to a positive Covid-19 test, despite the fact that they featured against Torino on the weekend.
“I can only talk about what happens on the pitch, I am sorry to be in these conditions. We are in great difficulty, think tonight about the beautiful Lazio that we saw with Immobile, Luis Alberto, Leiva, Radu, Lulic, Strakosha, Escalante.
“They are starters or important alternatives, I can only thank those who take to the pitch every two and a half days, making an extra sacrifice.”
Finally, Inzaghi spoke about Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo, who scored the equalising goal for the Biancocelesti late in the second half to rescue a point for the Italian team.
“A deserved prize for him, a goal in the Champions League, he’s a guy who’s always wanted to do well because he’s always wanted everything when he enters the pitch.
“He too has been living with a shoulder problem for fifteen days, we will have to do something about it during the break because he is playing in pain.”
Lazio’s draw against Zenit means that the team are now second in Group F of the Champions League, one point behind current leaders Borussia Dortmund, who beat Belgian side Club Brugge.
The Biancocelesti’s next game is against reigning champions Juventus on the weekend at home in Rome, a must win game for Inzaghi’s side.
