Getting Our Priorities Straight

By: cathal | May 5th, 2009

Going down 2-0 to Inter at the San Siro is no major shock but with every game that passes, it hurts to see us slowly but surely slipping down the table as our attention spans no further than the Coppa final. I think we got the approach right against what should be the Serie A champions and Rossi must continue to make correct decisions in the lead up to the big game.

It’s a shame we have nothing to fight for in the league because the season would be dissinteresting if we were not such fanatics. With regards to the remaining league fixtures, it is probably wise that we rotate the squad, rest our weary legs and yet keep them fresh and let a few fringe players and a couple of youngsters have a go. There is nothing to fight for anymore aside from the Coppa and for want of a better phrase, we need to box clever if we are to go into the final with the correct mindset.

Eight more days. Wish there was something else to talk about but that’s the reality of the situation; Coppa or bust. Forza Lazio!

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Reaction:

“For 60 minutes we did very well, we played with the ball on the ground and did well on counterattacks. We never gave away too much except some corners. Then a great champion came up with the decisive episode and after that we struggled, while Inter’s meanness came out.”

“I had to let some players take a breath because they spent a lot of energy, everyone played well for 60 minutes, but then it became evident that certain players weren’t used to playing 90 minutes.”

“Our scoring problems? I think it’s a matter of immaturity when you can reach the opposition’s penalty area easily but fail the final pass; usually we do well in that area, but not tonight.” – Delio Rossi

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Highlights:

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Pictures: http://www.lazialita.com/VisualizzaSezione.asp?IdArticolo=3628

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Player Ratings:

Muslera - 6.0: The Uruguayan keeper has been a revelation lately and commanded his area with supreme confidence, but could do nothing to prevent the two Inter goals.

Radu – 6.0: The Romanian defender did not make any glaring errors but could not match the productivity of his compatriot Chivu.

Rozenhal – 5.5: The ex-Newcastle man put in an admirable shift in the first half before Ibrahimovic tore him apart in the second 45 minutes.

Siviglia – 5.0: The veteran Italian defender was not troubled at all in the first half but it was a much different story in the second period as he had no answer to Ibra’s genius.

Kolarov – 6.0: The Serbian international with a rocket for a left foot will be left disappointed that he failed to hit the target twice from set-pieces in the first half.

Brocchi – 6.0: The former AC Milan man worked his socks off in the midfield and battled Cambiasso to a standstill.

Matuzalem – 6.0: It was a tale of two halves for the normally impressive Brazilian as he shut down the Inter attack in the first 45 minutes before tiring out in the second half.

Ledesma – 5.0: The usual architect of the Biancocelesti attack was nowhere to be found this evening. A poor performance from the Argentine midfielder.

Del Nero - 6.0: He was a surprise starter in place of Foggia but he battled hard, especially against Santon, and earned his pay cheque.

Zarate – 7.0: The Argentine hitman was a real threat every time he touched the ball and almost gave his team the lead in the 36th minute with a long distance laserbeam.

Rocchi – 5.5: The Aquilotti captain tested Julio Cesar in the ninth minute but was virtually anonymous after that, especially in the second half.

Subs

Foggia (63”) 6.0, Lichtsteiner (72”) 5.5, Kozak (84”) N/A

courtesy of goal.com