Empoli manager Roberto D’Aversa addressed the media following his team’s first loss of the season against Lazio. Despite the defeat, D’Aversa expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and highlighted several key points from the match.
On the overall performance, D’Aversa stated, “Certainly, I’m satisfied. The boys put in an excellent performance. Despite Lazio’s missed penalty, the regret is for the first half. Going into the locker room at 0-1 would have been different. Conceding that goal instead revitalized Lazio, and the crowd made the difference.”
Regarding the equalizer scored just before halftime, D’Aversa noted, “The regret is that the cross comes in after time has expired. He gave two minutes of added time, with Gyasi running to take the throw-in, and a minute was added. The cross comes in after time has expired. Lazio then won with a champion’s strike because Pedro could only score in that way.”
D’Aversa also commented on Pedro’s provocative celebration, expressing surprise at the veteran player’s actions: “It’s right that players do everything to win, but I don’t think there was a mistake by Castellanos or Vasquez. I believe the management could have been better. We shouldn’t think we lost because of provocations. We know the characteristics of some players and some stadiums. We’ve matured because there can be the insult of defeat added to the injury. It’s clear that from a champion like Pedro, I don’t expect him to come and celebrate under our bench. In certain moments, maybe one doesn’t think about what they’re doing. He scored a goal that brought three points, but for the champion he is, I didn’t expect that celebration.”
Looking ahead to the international break and future matches, D’Aversa joked about his player Goglichidze facing Kvaratskhelia: “I told him to rough him up during the week in the national team so we don’t have to face him after the break. This defeat doesn’t change anything. We wanted to reach the break unbeaten, but we’ll think about that after the break.”
