Ahead of Lazio’s Europa League match against Twente, manager Marco Baroni addressed the media in a pre-match press conference. Following their recent defeat to Juventus in Serie A, Lazio are looking to bounce back in their third Europa League group stage fixture.
Baroni began by acknowledging the challenge posed by their opponents: “They are a young team that plays good football and has performed well in their two cup matches. It will be a demanding and difficult test, especially because it’s at their home with the crowd pushing them on. We know that tomorrow we’ll need to deliver a very high-level performance in terms of sacrifice and intensity, as well as quality.”
The Lazio coach emphasized the importance of the match and the team’s ambitions: “We want to compete for all objectives. Tomorrow, ordinary motivation won’t be enough; we need something extraordinary. It’s a game with the most beautiful premises – a nice stadium and a young opponent that plays well with enthusiasm. We’ll need quality, sacrifice, and compactness while proposing good football.”
Addressing the team’s current situation, Baroni provided an update on player availability: “The close succession of matches puts us to the test, and we have some absences. Lazzari is recovering. For Guendouzi, it’s a conservative and shared choice to allow him to recover fully. There’s such beauty in these competitions and these matches that the team must seize this opportunity.”
Baroni also touched on the balance between Europa League and Serie A commitments: “We care a great deal about the league as well. After this game, we’ll immediately throw ourselves into the next match, playing again after just two days. But now, we must play with the attention and application that a game like this demands.”
