Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi has touched on the conditions of eight players who all have varying chances of featuring tomorrow night.
Celtic take the trip to Italy today as they get set to face the Serie A heavyweights once again. Lazio need to effectively take three points from the contest to have a decent chance of qualification. They remain third on three points, with Celtic top on seven.
Neil Lennon comes into the match with Boli Bolingoli the only real doubt (Evening Times). But the same can hardly be said for tomorrow’s rivals.
Speaking at his press conference in comments picked up by the Daily Record, here’s what Inzaghi had to say on the status of EIGHT of his players.
“I’m still not sure (who’s suspended). We’re coming off three matches in quick succession with a few problems. Those who definitely won’t be there (because of injuries) are Radu, Marusic and Cataldi, who is suspended.
“Correa, Caicedo and Leiva will have to be evaluated. Caicedo took a hit to his shoulder, at first we feared a fracture but it’s severe bruising. Correa took a knock in training and Leiva is fatigued. Immobile and Lulic are also a bit fatigued but I’m hopeful for them.
“The other three will have to be monitored, we’ve expended a lot physically and mentally.”
Celtic can’t be lured into mind-games
In football, nothing is certain. It could be the case that Inzaghi has mentioned such a host of players here to throw us off our game.
Neil Lennon, however, won’t be taking anything for granted. He’ll likely be expecting to see the majority of these players in the Lazio squad tomorrow night.
It’s interesting to note that Inzaghi simply says that Correa took a “knock”, and that Leiva is apparently “fatigued”. This would be an odd game to rest the latter, with Lazio’s European campaign on the line. As for Correa, Inzaghi doesn’t sound too concerned when he touches on it.
He’s also hopeful for Ciro Immobile and Senad Lulic. But it’s clear that all of the players mentioned are under at least some form of threat when it comes to making tomorrow.
At least big Fraser Forster won’t need to worry about Danilo Cataldi. The defender is suspended, and it was he who hit that stunning Celtic Park volley that Forster spectacularly stopped.
But we all know Lazio will put out a team of real quality tomorrow. Even so, it will be interesting to see just who manages to make it.
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