Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina highlighted the team’s growth ahead of today’s match against Salernitana.
Speaking to gathered reporters in a press conference (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) yesterday, the 39-year-old Spanish goalkeeper first commented on how this match will get him into the Lazio record books.
I didn’t know, when you’re about 40 years old records come almost by themselves, the important thing is to be available and helpful to the squad, then these things are beautiful and important, but the contribution you give to your teammates counts.
The Lazio goalkeeper gave his thoughts on the young goalkeepers at the Roman club, such as Marius Adamonis.
They are of great help to us, it is an opportunity for them, they have their future ahead of them.
Adamonis in particular has taken an important step forward, his structure and goalkeeping technique has improved a lot.
The others are very young, they have just started, the relationship is very positive with everyone.
Reina touched on the secret of his longevity.
Dedication, I think. Love for what you do, I have made football my reason for living throughout my career, it is the most ‘normal’ secret.
All of us footballers have to make football our reason, work and rest well.
The Spanish veteran commented on the current strengths of this Lazio squad.
We’re in a period of change, of acceptance of the coach’s ideas, we have to try to shorten the times to reach the movements that the coach wants.
In the last 3-4 weeks we’ve made important steps forward, the team is becoming solid, the first objective must be to be consistent and become a team that is difficult to beat.
This is the only way to understand our value, the important thing is to have consistency in our performances, lately this has been the case.
The former Liverpool man discussed what the future holds for him.
To finish this year in Europe, if that’s the case I’ll get another year on my contract, that’s everyone’s goal. I want to give my contribution, 100%, that is my goal.
The rest will be seen with the growth of the team, personally I’m worried about giving my best.
Reina then commented on his relationship with Salernitana forward Franck Ribery and backup Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.
I had a very nice relationship with Franck at Bayern, last year he played for Fiorentina, we swapped shirts, it’s always a pleasure to see him.
I respect him a lot, it makes me happy to see him still at these levels. The competition with Thomas is good for both of us, for the team as well.
We have a friendly relationship, I consider him a friend, you can see on and off the pitch that we’re all trying to do our best.
He spoke about if the training retreat that the team were forced to attend helped.
Something changed after Verona, almost always the direct confrontations in the locker room and the meetings between us are good.
The team has understood the importance of every match, of always having the same attitude and grit. I hope to see this again, we always need the same determination.
Reina spoke about the lack of Lazio fans present in the 2-2 draw with Olympique Marseille.
The French rules and what led to certain decisions by the Minister escape me.
A pity that in the 21st century teams cannot have their fans behind them for support, beyond countries and societies.
A fact more cultural than sporting. I pity, it is not nice to see, sorry.
He spoke about how objects were thrown at the players by the fans.
I think it’s more of a social, educational problem than a football problem.
In England it never happens, it happens here and always on the same pitches, you have to ask yourself a question.
The Spanish veteran gave his thoughts on star striker Ciro Immobile and how the Italian has never scored against him.
Are you sure of this fact? In a friendly match? I don’t remember, when he played in Turin I was at Napoli, then he was at Lazio and I was at Napoli, luck always smiled on us there.
What he has done is history, he is a player who is decisive for us, who has an ease in scoring goals that is rare, for us it is life.
Finally, Reina spoke about today’s match against 19th place Salernitana.
I think every game now is a final for us, the mentality of the team, I was talking before about the growth in the approach of consistency every game.
For us every match must be life, without goals that go beyond the next match. I think this is the best way to think, with Salernitana it is vital to go to the break with more tranquility and ease.
