Italy

Davide Ballardini: I Agreed With Lazio To Leave Out Goran Pandev & Cristian Ledesma

The natives are restless in Rome, but Ballardini is stoically sticking by the decision he made at the start of the campaign...

Oct 27, 2009 4:52:23 PM

Davide Ballardini - Lazio (Getty Images)

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Davide Ballardini - Lazio (Getty Images)

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Lazio host Cagliari on Wednesday after a very poor performance against Bari, and coach Davide Ballardini has attributed the loss to the club's packed fixture schedule.

"Playing so many matches creates fatigue and stress - it isn't easy even in terms of mental exhaustion," the former Palermo coach said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Many pundits believe that reintegrating 'rebels' Cristian Ledesma and Goran Pandev into the squad would help alleviate the wear and tear on the team, but Ballardini insists that his decision to leave them out this season was taken carefully with the club.

"When one is hired, you must make certain decisions along with the company. In the end we will see who is right and who is wrong," he concluded.

Pandev, who has taken legal action against the club, has been heavily linked with a move to Inter in January.

On Tuesday, 200 Lazio supporters staged a protest at club's Formello training ground.

Adam Scime, Goal.com