Reja: ´Everyone is equal´

Lazio boss Edy Reja came down hard on dissent in the ranks following their 3-2 win over Udinese on Sunday.

Argentine Mauro Zarate stormed down the tunnel after being substituted midway through the second half, while Alvaro Gonzalez allegedly refused to come off the bench and had to be convinced to make a substitute appearance.

Lazio, three points behind league leaders AC Milan, remain very much in the hunt for the Serie A title and Reja is not prepared to let indiscipline derail the campaign.

“I am the coach and I make the decisions,” Reja said.

“There are no phenomenons here.”

“Either we understand that everyone is equal and has to accept the decisions for the good of the team, or we run into trouble.”

“If people start acting unhappy, then we risk seeing everything collapse. After all, that’s what happened last season.”

Midfielder Stefano Mauri was delighted by the winning end to 2010 and challenged his team-mates to build on the result when the Italian season resumes in January.

“This result is a great Christmas present for us,” Mauri said.

“It hasn’t come easy. Udinese made life difficult for us but in the end we got a deserved win … it’s a great feeling but we know that in order to do well we have to always give our best.”

“The game against Udinese is nevertheless a reminder that we also have to win games against the teams that are behind us in the standings and that it’s tough, as was the case today.”

“We hope to start 2011 in the same way we finished this year. There is room for improvement and we will look to do that in the new year.”