Lazio president Claudio Lotito has defended the freezing out of Goran Pandev and Cristian Ledesma from their first team.

The two players wanted moves away from the Biancocelesti in the summer, but no one came in with a bid that satisfied Lotito's valuation. Since then, they haven't featured in the first team.

He said: “I don't marginalise anyone. Pandev and Ledesma have isolated themselves. Our trainer has chosen to do without them because when you lack a sense of belonging you are no longer at the service of the team.

“You don't only win games with the physical side of things, but above all with the head and with the heart.”