Goran Pandev insists there is more to Lazio's season than survival.

"I don't know what's happened this season," Pandev admitted. "It's one of those periods.

"The results aren't as we expected, but we need patience. We have to work and believe in ourselves more and then I'm convinced that we will come through this."

He added: "Survival? No, that doesn't have to be our objective.

"The team is the same as last year and we can still do great things, but we have just had a bad start.

"There are certainly lots of games and it's not easy to play every three days. It also has to be said that we have had lots of injuries and it seems like every game there is another one."

On his own future, Pandev added: "I am happy and I love being in Rome.

"It is the perfect atmosphere for me and my future lies here in the capital. I can't see any further than Lazio."