Reja´s return to Naples turns sour

Lazio manager Edy Reja rued his team’s defensive performance after a 4-3 loss to Napoli in the Serie A.

Reja’s team led 2-0 and then 3-2, but fell to two late goals from Edison Cavani, who finished with a hat-trick.

The boss said it was hard to swallow defeat after finding the net three times at Napoli.

“You can’t come to Naples, score three goals at the San Paolo and lose the game,” Reja said.

“We prepared for the match well, but when 2-0 up we lacked a bit of determination to kill off the match.”

“It’s a shame as the lads took the right approach, although some things need to be looked at in defence.”

Reja was the opposition coach at the San Paolo for the first time after he helped Napoli reach the top flight.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito was angry about the manner in which his club suffered defeat.

Cristian Brocchi appeared to score but for the ball to be ruled not to have crossed the line entirely while Giuseppe Biava was sent off after fouling Cavani in the penalty area.

Lotito was far from impressed with Napoli and how the game unfolded.

“I am very proud of my team because we are accustomed to getting our results on the pitch and in deserved fashion,” he said.

“There were incidents that penalised us. The penalty speaks for itself while Brocchi’s shot was clearly over the line.”

“If things continue with this logic then we can already predict now who will be in which position. We play fair and don’t seek to win at all costs, unlike others. Fair play is not optional.”

The result saw Lazio remain narrowly out of the spots for the Champions League with seven games remaining.