Prandelli considers Athens trip Wednesday 28 November, 2007
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On the day of his wife’s funeral, it is reported Cesare Prandelli is considering flying to Athens for Fiorentina’s UEFA Cup game.
The calcio world has united in its embrace for Prandelli after the tragic death of wife Manuela after a long illness on Monday. Over 2,000 people – including the entire Viola squad and directors – attended the funeral this afternoon in Orzinuovi.
Unable to attend the funeral due to their Champions League tie with Milan this evening, former Parma players Alberto Gilardino and Daniele Bonera visited Prandelli yesterday and sent flowers to the church.
Just as he had on Sunday in the 0-0 with Reggina, assistant manager Gabriele Pin is set to take the bench in Thursday’s match away to AEK Athens.
Christian Vieri is expected to start upfront joined by Martin Jorgensen and Under-21 international Daniel Osvaldo.
Riccardo Montolivo will start as he is suspended for next week’s encounter with Inter, while Tomas Ujfalusi is out injured.
However, there are reports emerging that Prandelli may decide to join his team in Greece with a flight late this evening or early on Thursday morning.
“I am trying to be strong, but the strongest person in our family was always Manuela,” he told ‘Stadio’ newspaper.
Fiorentina squad: Balzaretti, Dainelli, Donadel, Frey, Gamberini, Gobbi, Jorgensen, Kroldrup, Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Lupatelli, Montolivo, Osvaldo, Pasqual, Pazienza, Pazzagli, Pazzini, Semioli, Vanden Borre, Vieri.
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ეჰჰ ლაციო ლაციო,უეფაზეც ვეღარ გავა და არცაა საჭირო ისე
ტეხავს,მაგრამ ოლიმპიაკოსი მაგარია საკმაოდ და ბერძნები უნდა გავიდნენ წესით მეორეზე.
Rossi believes in Lazio miracle Wednesday 28 November, 2007
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Delio Rossi still believes Lazio can defeat Real Madrid and stay in the Champions League despite their setback.
In order to qualify for the next phase, the Biancocelesti need to beat Real in Madrid and hope Olympiacos do not lose against Werder Bremen.
“It was a tough game, we knew that, and had done the most important thing which was taking the lead. Then we made some silly mistakes that you cannot afford against an experienced side like Olympiacos,” he said of the 2-1 home loss.
“We also had some good opportunities to get back into it, but unfortunately were unable to convert them.”
Rossi has struggled throughout the current campaign to keep Lazio in the running with a small squad that has been plagued by fitness worries.
“We have had a lot of injuries and know we don’t have much strength in depth, so we need everyone to be in good shape to really survive in this competition,” continued the Coach.
“Yet in games like this the psychological factor often counts even more than the physical. Conceding the equaliser so soon after our goal was a real blow.”
They are not mathematically out of the running yet, but as Real Madrid are not qualified either, the Spaniards will be in no mood to give Lazio gifts.
“We played a great game against Real Madrid at the Olimpico. We realise it won’t be easy, but all we can do is go there and give it our best.”
The Biancocelesti had held Real to an impressive 2-2 draw in Rome, probably their best performance of the Champions League so far.
“It is tough to compete in three tournaments, but we earned this bicycle and now we must start pedalling. We hope to end this Champions League group phase on a high.
“The great thing about football is that anything can happen, even when the result is predicted by all. We must believe.”
იტალიური ფეხბურთის ბრიგადა, MAFIA... მე-9 ნაწილი
