Reja urges Lazio to seize chance

Lazio coach Edy Reja wants his team to take their opportunity and clinch a Champions League place with a win over Inter Milan.

Reja’s men are relying on third-placed Udinese to slip up against Catania on Sunday, with Francesco Guidolin’s team two points ahead of Lazio.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s match at Stadio Olimpico, Reja said it was important his team took the chance they had and put the pressure on Udinese.

“It will be a very important and decisive game. If we consider the table, we have another chance to get into the Champions League and we need to try to make sure that we don’t waste that opportunity,” Reja said on Saturday.

“We know very well that it will be a very tough game because, as we’ve seen in the derby match last week, Inter are in great form, both physically and mentally.

“They attack and counterattack greatly and they are fast, it won’t be easy for us, but we are aware of our strength that includes having (Miroslav) Klose back on the pitch.”

Inter Milan have lost just once under coach Andrea Stramaccioni, who took over in March, and upset rivals AC Milan 4-2 last time out.

Reja paid tribute to Stramaccioni’s efforts at the San Siro since replacing Claudio Ranieri.

“Stramaccioni has surely given some life and motivation to Inter who needed re-energising, and his arrival at the club has surely delivered determination and conviction,” Reja said.

“He changed something from the tactical point of view, but he found players physically ready after having recovered from injuries.

“I don’t know if he was lucky but that’s how it went and he has done very well being so young in such a big team. He gave me the impression that he knows what he’s doing and he has a great personality.”