Reja focused firmly on derby

Edy Reja has refused to comment on his future at Lazio after telling reporters he has his eyes only on Sunday’s derby encounter rivals Roma.

The coach looked to have ended his association with Lazio last month after offering to resign from the club following a poor run of form, only to be stopped in his tracks by president Claudio Lotito.

However, Reja has since committed himself to the club for the rest of the season, and speaking prior to Sunday’s clash with their city rivals at the Olimpico, he asserted that the derby with Roma was his sole priority.

“In football you never know,” Reja said. “There are still three more months until the end of the season and then I will see if our roads separate, or if there is still scope for continuity of the project.”

“But before then, I am only thinking of the derby.”

Reja then switched his focus to the match itself, and revealed he wants Lazio to continue with their recent improved form by replicating their 2-1 win over Roma from earlier in the season.

“I know what this match means for the fans and the city,” he said. “It is of fundamental importance to the capital, but I hope that Lazio give me similar satisfaction to the match earlier in the season.”

“We are going through a positive period, and we have the peace of mind to play with lots of confidence.”

“Lazio will keep fighting for third place against their rivals. We are aware of the qualities of teams like Inter and Udinese, all whom are able to fight for this position.”

However, he admitted that his side may miss the influence of Bosnian star Senad Lulic, who has been arguably the side’s most inventive player during the 2011-12 campaign, but has been ruled out of Sunday’s fixture due to injury.

“I am only sorry that we will be without Lulic’s characteristics to hurt Roma, but we can still pose a threat,” Reja said.

“We must face them with great intensity, attack them and try not to bring them near our goal.”

Lazio are fourth on the Serie A table, level on points with third-placed Udinese who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.