Lazio striker Ciro Immobile expressed disappointment at the criticisms he receives when playing for the Italian national team.
Speaking to gathered reporters in a press conference (via LazioNews24) earlier today, the 31-year-old Italian striker first discussed how it feels to be back in the Azzurri training camp in Coverciano.
First of all I’m happy to be back. I thank the coach for his kind words, I was very pleased.
Criticism is part of the game when you’re wearing this shirt. I’m putting up important numbers with Lazio and I’m trying to do my best with this shirt too.
He spoke about how it felt to play under coach Maurizio Sarri at Lazio.
A completely different way of playing, the way I play at Lazio also helps me here with the national team.
I wasn’t there in October, but now I’ll try to put my all on the pitch for these two games. They are important, difficult matches, we want to reach the goal like we’ve always done.
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Finally Immobile highlighted his sadness regarding the amount of criticism he regularly receives whilst playing for the Azzurri.
I won’t deny it, it hurts me a little bit yeah. I know that the numbers I have with Lazio are not the same that I have here but you can’t compare them, here we play 7-8 games a year and maybe you don’t arrive in the best condition.
I would like to score the same number of goals, but not everything we want is possible.
I’m sorry sometimes I don’t get the same treatment as the others, it seemed like I wasn’t a part of the 26 of the European Championship and this is a bad thing.
I am satisfied with what I do with this shirt, the performances are good but I know I need to score a few more goals.
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The 31-year-old Immobile has often been criticised for his Azzurri performances due to a lack of goals. In 54 appearances across friendlies and competitive matches, he has scored only 15 goals. In contrast to this, the Italian striker has scored 10 goals in 11 Serie A appearances this campaign.
Immobile played all but one game in Italy’s successful European Championship this summer, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the tournament.