Chievo vs Lazio preview - Rocchi ready for Flying Donkeys
Posted Sunday, September 16, 2012 by PA
Tommaso Rocchi may have been left out of Lazio's list of players registered for the Europa League, but his career with the Biancoceleste is far from over.
With one eye on next Thursday's European opener against Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio coach Vladimir Petkovic may well need the services of the striker at Chievo just three days shy of his 35th birthday to enable him to give Miroslav Klose a rest this weekend.
Klose has played two games for Germany in the past 10 days and may therefore be allowed to put his feet up when Lazio travel to Chievo.
"I am ready, as always," said Rocchi. "Whenever I am called upon, I will try to take my chances.
"I know what I am worth and I will try to show this on the field."
Despite his exclusion from European football until at least January, Rocchi does not bear a grudge against Lazio's new coach.
In fact, he believes the former Sion supremo can lead the club to an even better league finish than last season, with the Champions League becoming an objective after two wins in a row.
"You can see the impact he has made," continued Rocchi. "The team is following him, but we have got to try to keep our feet on the ground.
"There will be difficult times, but the important thing is that we remain united because Lazio have the potential to do even better than last year."
Chievo have demonstrated their potential too in the first two games of the season and their coach Domenico Di Carlo is optimistic about the future.
"We have a large squad and this only helps to give you more options. When you have lots of players to choose from, a coach is always happy," he said.
"Obviously, this means they all have to work very hard to earn a space and this gives Chievo an edge."
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