Lazio manager Marco Baroni expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance following their 2-1 victory against Empoli. Speaking to the club’s official media and DAZN, Baroni highlighted the squad’s maturity and resilience in overcoming early setbacks.
“The compliments are only for the team. I had asked for a show of maturity and compactness against a difficult opponent,” Baroni stated. “We made it more complicated for ourselves due to the field conditions, there was this slip by Ivan, and then going behind and missing the penalty – we put everything into it. It’s better that it went this way; we just wanted to win.”
Baroni emphasized the importance of maintaining hunger and intensity: “We must be hungry; we do a wonderful job. We play for the fans; it’s the most beautiful thing. We must train and play fiercely in every game.”
The coach had special praise for Pedro, highlighting his professionalism and importance to the team: “Pedro is fine; he works for this. He needs to stay calm; he’s in great condition. We give him the right chances. He knows he’s important; for me, he’s a starter and will extend his career further. For sure.”
Addressing the team’s ambitions, Baroni said, “We are ambitious like our club and the city. We must go through the collective, through a strong identity. If you start looking at the standings, it’s a mistake. We enjoy the enthusiasm, but I know I have to keep the players tied to what allows you to make these performances: work, dedication, and attention to detail.”
On the topic of squad rotation, Baroni expressed his dislike for the term: “I don’t like to call it turnover or changes. I don’t coach 11 players but 24; all the boys know they can play. You can’t keep the same players in all these matches.”
Looking ahead to the international break, Baroni outlined his plans: “We’ll use it to recover and put in some work. We’ll wait for the boys to return and prepare to face these 7 games in 21 days.”
