Ahead of Lazio playing Celtic this week, the Italian media have been speaking to anyone they can find who is connected to both Italian and Scottish football.
Rangers legend Lorenzo Amoruso has taken his turn, along with Massimo Donati, who has played for Celtic and is currently a coach at Kilmarnock.
Now it’s Marco Negri’s turn. His time at Ibrox may have been largely hampered by injuries, but Rangers has still left a mark on the 38 year old, who now coaches strikers at Udinese.
Speaking to La Lazio Siamo Noi, Negri was asked what he expects from the Europa League match this week:
“As a former Rangers player, I’ll be supporting Lazio (laughs). The biancocelesti will find an incredible climate, Celtic Park will make itself felt. For me, Lazio is largely superior tactically and technically to the opponent.
“They players who can solve things at any time. We must not however underestimate the atmosphere, the charge with which the hosts will enter. In the first 20 minutes they will be pushed by the public and will be pushed across the board. Lazio likes to get out with the ball, with the three behind setting. They will attack like crazy and nothing will be left. From the 25th minute I expect another game, because there will be so many energies. The technical superiority of Inzaghi’s men will come out. Lazio will have opportunities because Celtic always concede something.”
Like others who have spoken to the Italian media this week, Negri made sure to warn Lazio that they need to be at their best or face being overcome by Neil Lennon’s Celtic and the crowd which will be behind them.
La Lazio Siamo Noi put it to Negri that the Rome derby is ‘one of the hottest’, and they wanted him to compare the Glasgow version: “I know it’s a very hot derby, the fans also play the game. Same thing for Celtic and Rangers. You know it’s a fundamental match, which can mark an entire career. I remember that when I played this derby there was a very jovial dressing room. People laughed and joked. Before the derby, no, there was maximum concentration. We went to the field for the three points but also for a whole people. An incredible pressure.”
Lazio travel to Glasgow today for the match against Celtic on Thursday.
