Rome (AFP)
Lazio Rome approach with "humility" its knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday (21:00, 20:00 GMT) against Bayern Munich, a defending champion "almost unplayable", assured Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi on Monday.
His Bavarian counterpart Hansi Flick asks his players to be "present from the kick-off" at the Stadio Olimpico, refusing to blame fatigue or numerous absences after two poor results in the league.
Main points from the Lazio Rome and Bayern Munich press conferences.
- Bad pass from Bayern -
Hansi Flick: "I don't want to look for excuses. We analyze our matches, and it is clear that our first periods against Bielefeld (3-3) and Frankfurt (1-2) were not good. But we have to admit that in the last few weeks the load on the players has been huge, and we are missing some important players. But I am looking forward in a positive way, this is the Champions League, these are particular matches and we have for these matches a particular motivation. (...) I would like my team to be there from the start. We have a clear idea of the football we want to play and I would like to see it right away. "
Kingsley Coman, Bayern striker: "We have left a lot of juice in the trips lately (especially the Club World Cup editor's note), and we have absent players. But tomorrow is the Champions League and we will give everything to win this match ".
Simone Inzaghi: "Bayern have just been world and European champions. They have just conceded a draw and a defeat but they had five consecutive victories before that ... Rather than looking for weak points, I work on the certainties of my team. "
- Lazio as an outsider -
Simone Inzaghi: "It's going to be a great emotion, the crowning of five years of work. We will play this match in the form of the icing on the cake as best as possible, with humility (...). We want to make a match that will help us. Leaves in the race for qualification, it will be played over 180 minutes not only Tuesday's 90. We meet an almost unplayable team but we have already made great matches when we were not favorites. The team is mature and, although they have never made a round of 16 in the Champions League, they have played a quarter-final in the Europa League and several finals. "
Ciro Immobile, Lazio striker: "It's a gala match, we gave a lot to get there. We had to go through a very complicated group stage. We went to Bruges (1-1) with only twelve players from the first team and the others from the youth team (due to coronavirus, editor's note). We are really proud of this journey to be able to face Bayern. "
Hansi Flick: "We still have their matches against Dortmund in mind, they played very well. Miroslav Klose's past at Lazio can also help us, he always has very good opinions and he knows one or the other players."
- Lewandowski vs. Immobile -
Simone Inzaghi: "They are currently the two strongest strikers in circulation. We are talking about Ciro, who won the golden shoe last season (top scorer in the European championships, with 36 goals in Serie A) and of Lewandowski who would certainly have won the Golden Ball. "
Ciro Immobile: "Any advice for Francesco Acerbi, who will score Lewandowski? No, no advice, he has already marked it in the recent matches of Italy against Poland (0-0 and 2-0 in the League of Nations He is one of the best defenders today, he will give his maximum as usual. "
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