Torino boss Sinisa Mihajlovic slams 'overweight' striker Maxi Lopez
Saturday 17 September 2016 19:59, UK
Torino coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has laid into the fitness levels of Maxi Lopez, saying his striker plays "like he had a washing machine on his back".
The Serie A side, who recently signed Joe Hart on a season-long loan from Manchester City, are in the bottom half of the table after losing 2-1 to Atalanta, their second defeat in three games.
Although Mihajlovic refused to blame Hart for Sunday's defeat, despite the England international marking his debut with a costly blunder, he wasn't as forgiving to the former Barcelona and AC Milan striker Lopez.
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"He's not fit and is suffering because he is overweight," the manager said. "It is because of this that the work we do is hard for him. He must lose weight."
However, Mihajlovic did thank the 32-year-old forward for stepping into the breach last weekend at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia when Torino were short of options up front because of injuries.
"I spoke with Maxi Lopez," Mihajlovic added. "When someone is seven kilos overweight, which is like having a washing machine on his back, and he can play like he did at Bergamo, he has that class.
"But I am angry with him and he should be angry with himself. I told him that unless he loses weight, he will not play.
"He must follow a balanced diet that should enable him to lose a kilo a week. Each week, he must lose a kilo or he pays a fine."
The Serie A club's next fixture is against Empoli on Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino.
