Spirit essential if Lazio are to mount serious Serie A title challenge

Lazio president Claudio Lotito believes that maintaining team spirit will be crucial if the club are to continue to top the Serie A table and mount a serious title challenge this season.

Lotito is in no doubt that the Lazio squad has the talent to upset Inter and AC Milan and win Serie A this season, but much will come down to the mental attitude of the team.

Lazio beat Brescia in their most recent league outing, which saw them take over front-running duties at the head of the standings.

Despite their strong start, which has seen Lazio take 13 points from their opening six league games to top the table by two points, Lazio remain 33/1 to win Serie A this season.

Lotito told Radio Anch’io lo Sport: “We know we have built a competitive team, but we know that we need the spirit of the group to achieve objectives.

“If we do this then this team can achieve great things. I hope we can keep this spirit of those who get on the pitch. If everything remains like this then Lazio can do very well because we have quality on all fronts.”

A big reason for Lazio’s impressive start has been the success of Hernanes and Stefan Mauri, who have both exceeded expectations in providing the team’s creativity.

With manager Edy Reja opting to select Stefan Radu and Stephan Lichsteiner, who both offer little in the way of attack, as his full-backs and Cristian Ledesma as his defensive enforcer in midfield, there are few creative options at his disposal.

However, Reja is keeping his feet on the ground and insists that he will not know where Lazio truly stand in the title race for another eight or nine games.

Inter are the 1/1 favourites to win Serie A for the sixth successive season. See the whole Serie A winners betting odds market.