Reja eyes redemption against Verona

Lazio head coach Edy Reja has not excused their defeat to Siena, as they prepare for their Coppa Italia clash against Verona on Tuesday.

The Rome-based side are five times winners of the tournament having last won the competition in 2009, but enter their Italian Cup last-16 clash on the back of a 4-0 league loss to lowly Siena.

Verona have never won the Coppa Italia, finishing as runners up on three occasions – most recently in 1984 – and Reja is hoping his side can bounce back from their loss to reach the quarter-finals.

“I would like and prefer to look ahead of me, and not behind, because we have no excuses for our last performance, you cannot even talk about such a match,” Reja said.

“We didn’t play with our qualities, probably due to our mental attitude, we didn’t react, there was another Lazio on the pitch, not the one we were and are used to watch.”

Reja said Verona’s form in Serie B this season – they have won 10 of their past 11, drawing the other – will ensure the top-flight outfit will be pushed all the way at the Stadio Olimpico.

“I’m happy we can talk about tomorrow’s game. I know that after such a bad performance it’s fair to give you some explanations, but let’s talk about Verona now. Verona are a strong team with good qualities and technical values, they’re playing extraordinarily this season, therefore we know how good they are,” he said.

“I’ve already talked with the guys yesterday and we all know they’re a team that can create us a few problems. We need to remain focused on this next match and forget about the last match, while remaining aware of the bad performance we put in, but trying to turn over a new leaf. That’s what the guys and the team want to do, and quite rightly so.”