Lazio boss Stefano Pioli has stressed the importance of Sunday’s Rome derby, even if his side have little to play for during the rest of the season.
Last season’s clashes saw Lazio and Roma battling for second place in Serie A, but this time around the Biancocelesti are 18 points behind their rivals but Pioli is not playing down the significance of the match
“The game is all about local pride,” Pioli told reporters ahead of the match. “It is a chance to give everything and to demonstrate that we are worthy of the shirt.”
“This fixture has its own history, and a derby can nullify technical qualities, so things can’t be taken for granted.”
There has been increasingly speculation linking Pioli with a summer move away from the Stadio Olimpico after a disappointing campaign both in Serie A and Europe.
