Fabian Ruiz popped up with a crucial winner in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time at the Stadio Olympico after Pedro appeared to have nicked a point for the hosts with two minutes remaining on the clock by cancelling out Lorenzo Insigne’s opener.
The result provided the perfect response for Spalletti, whose side came in for criticism after elimination from the Europa League by Barcelona on Thursday.
Napoli have now taken over top spot from AC Milan, with the two sides set to meet at the Diego Maradona stadium next weekend.
“The team played good football in the second half, and it’s true that Pedro’s wonder goal got Lazio on level terms, but we had numerous chances before that, the goal that was disallowed and the one that was cleared off the line,” Spalletti told DAZN.
“I think overall the team deserved the victory. I want to underline that everyone keeps moaning that this team doesn’t have character, it’s soft, it’s sluggish, I want to hear them say that now.
“This team definitely has character. People said we couldn’t draw with Cagliari, but they went to beat Torino away from home today.
“We lost to Barcelona after getting a result at Camp Nou, it was my fault because I told them to take that approach.
“I see an ugly atmosphere around this team, people trying to say we lack character. I want to see them say that now.
“There are many games, but this team has potential, it has character and showed it tonight. This is not the same Lazio that we beat earlier this season, because they play good football, they work together to press and attack you, so we were wide awake.
“People go take Fabian off, take him off, take him off: I leave him on and he scores! This is a team challenging for a high level of the table, that has generally played good football. I don’t know what people try to drag us into, perhaps because they are afraid to face opponents like this with open football, but my players are not afraid.
“We got knocked down, we got straight back on our feet again and poured forward to find the winner. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to say this was a deserved victory.”
